Major Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, commanding general, 1st Marine Division, congratulates Sgt. Matthew T. Woodall, former squad leader, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, after awarding him the Silver Star Medal during an award ceremony at the Camp San Mateo parade deck here, Aug. 2, 2013. Woodall, a native of Paducah, Ky., earned the nation's third highest military award for valor for his actions in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A platoon-sized enemy force attacked Woodall and his Marines from several fortified positions during a security patrol mission in the Sangin district of Helmand, July 10 through 11, 2011. His daring actions ultimately defeated the enemy attack, killing four insurgents and wounding many others. - Major Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, commanding general, 1st Marine Division, congratulates Sgt. Matthew T. Woodall, former squad leader, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, after awarding him the Silver Star Medal during an award ceremony at the Camp San Mateo parade deck here, Aug. 2, 2013. Woodall, a native of Paducah, Ky., earned the nation's third highest military award for valor for his actions in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A platoon-sized enemy force attacked Woodall and his Marines from several fortified positions during a security patrol mission in the Sangin district of Helmand, July 10 through 11, 2011. His daring actions ultimately defeated the enemy attack, killing four insurgents and wounding many others.