Ray Michael Fuhrmann II

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Ray Michael Fuhrmann, II, Specialist, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Medical Aidman with the 3d Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3d Infantry Division, during combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, on 22 March 2005, in Iraq. On that date, Specialist Fuhrmann’s unit came under enemy fire near Samarra, Iraq. Several Iraqi Army commandos fell and lay exposed in a field between the opponents. Without regard for his safety, Specialist Fuhrmann braved extremely heavy enemy fire and went to the Iraqis to treat their wounds. As he treated the wounded, he also fired his rifle and pistol to support his unit’s counterattack. When he ran out of ammunition, he seized one of the wounded Iraqis’ rifles and continued to fire in support of the assault and to protect the wounded. Specialist Fuhrmann’s actions during the firefight saved the lives of six Iraqi commandos and helped prevail over the enemy.