Kyle Burns

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Kyle Burns, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the 2d Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade Combat Team, during combat operations in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM on June 20, 2006. Lieutenant Burns distinguished himself while serving as a Platoon Leader in Team Destroyer TF Catamount in Helmand Province, as part of Operation MOUNTAIN THRUST. While conducting a route reconnaissance, Lieutenant Burns’ and another vehicle came under enemy ambush with small arms, machine gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Burns directed the vehicles to move forward, but his vehicle was disabled by enemy fire and he sustained a back injury from the impact. He was forced to abandon the vehicles and then directed his nine-man element to occupy a rooftop of a nearby compound. He quickly organized a defensive posture on the rooftop, where his element repelled 75 to 100 fighters who made repeated attempts at overrunning their position. Despite being injured, he calmly directed his element and leveraged air assets against the enemy force until reinforcements were able to breach the enemy positions to gain link-up. Over five hours, Lieutenant Burns’ element destroyed an estimated 35 enemy fighters. His leadership enabled his men to inflict significant casualties against the enemy and sustained only one friendly casualty.