Jerod R. Dennis

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Jerod R. Dennis, Private Second Class, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the 3d Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, during combat operations in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, on 25 April 2003, in Afghanistan. Private First Class Dennis was part of a quick reaction force trying to help American soldiers under attack along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. He was trying to evacuate a wounded soldier who was bleeding to death when enemy fire struck his vehicle. Private Dennis volunteered to run back for help. He ran a mile before he found an Afghan Military Forces unit. He escorted them through the firefight to the wounded soldier, who survived. The fighting continued, and Private Dennis climbed into the back of a civilian pickup with two comrades to continue to ferry wounded soldiers to a casualty collection point. The truck was ambushed by anti-coalition forces, which bombarded him and the other soldiers with rocket-propelled grenades and gunfire. The truck spun out of control and was damaged. Private Dennis stood in the back of the truck and began firing at the guerrillas, allowing his comrades to escape and find cover. Despite being shot in the leg multiple times, he ignored his wounds and continued to attack the enemy until he, himself was mortally wounded.