Matthew Julian

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Matthew Julian, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the 1st Battalion, 3d Special Forces Group (Airborne), during combat operations in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, in Oruzgan Province of Afghanistan, in October 2005. Sergeant First Class Julian and his team had been conducting cordon and search operations in a valley known to be a Taliban sanctuary when his team was attacked. Sergeant First Class Julian jumped out of his vehicle and started firing a 60 mm mortar at the enemies. When enemy fire increased, he began firing shells to the north and made other tactical maneuvers that helped save his detachment.