Patric L. Trattles

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Patric L. Trattles, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while leading 2d Squad, 3d Platoon, Company B, 2d Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, during combat operations in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, near Camp Tillman, Lwara, Afghanistan, on 29 October 2005. The reinforced squad was manning an observation post when it spotted several armed men approaching the company commander’s nearby position. When it erupted into a firefight, Staff Sergeant Trattles immediately moved to the area and threw two hand grenades at the assaulting enemy element. This action killed several anti-coalition militia personnel and contributed to effectively halting the initial assault. At one point in the battle, Staff Sergeant Trattles noticed the enemy attacking a weak point in the perimeter. He picked up an M240B machine gun and moved under fire to that position and opened fire on several enemy fighters about 25 meters from his position. After about 40 minutes, the enemy force started an organized retreat, using sharpshooters to cover their withdrawal. At that time a bullet struck Staff Sergeant Travis Nixon in the shoulder. Staff Sergeant Trattles and the unit medic worked on Staff Sergeant Nixon until the enemy fire lightened up enough so he could be evacuated. Staff Sergeant Trattles carried him to Humvees about 150 meters away and Staff Sergeant Nixon was airlifted out, but he died soon after arriving at the aid station.