Maj. Brent Clemmer, a former Stryker brigade company commander who we've featured in several stories (here and here, for instance), will receive the Silver Star for gallantry in combat in a ceremony Thursday at Fort Lewis, the post announced.

Clemmer will get the nation's third-highest award for combat valor for his actions last Jan. 28 near Najaf. He was commander of C Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment at the time, serving as the 'just in case' force for U.S. commanders in Baghdad.

From the Lewis press release:

Capt. Clemmer was notified of a downed AH-64 helicopter, and that coalition forces were receiving significant small arms and mortar fire in the area. He moved his unit approximately 100 kilometers to the site, linked up with the Special Forces team near the crash site, which had suffered casualties, and established a defensive perimeter between the wreckage and enemy forces.

He was also credited with putting in place rules of engagement to identify and destroy enemy forces while directing the recovery of the aircraft and pilot’s remains.

Clemmer was also cited for actions to direct his unit in repulsing several enemy counter attacks during the night. At daylight, Clemmer and his unit deployed forward to support his sister company’s assault of an enemy trench to the east. Clemmer and his men also accepted the surrender of several hundred personnel, many combatant and others non-combatant. He identified wounded and established a landing zone for medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and for bringing in additional medical supplies, water, and humanitarian rations. His actions and those of his soldiers resulted in approximately 250 enemy killed, 81 enemy wounded and 410 enemy captured. They also recovered several hundred weapons to include small arms, machine guns, mortars and RPGs, plus stockpiles of enemy ammunition, medical supplies and food.