- SURNAME
Kim
- FORENAME
Jonathan Yong
- UNIT
SEALS
- RANK
Special Warfare Operator Second Class
- NUMBER
- AWARD
Silver Star
- PLACE
Iraq, June 2006
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
resided Santa Monica, California
born Los Angeles, California
2016 Doctorate of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
2017 NASA astronaut
CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Special Warfare Operator Second Class (SEAL) Jonathan Yong Kim, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Naval Special Warfare Task Unit-RAMADI Combat Advisor and Hospital Corpsman for Naval Special Warfare Task Group-Arabian Peninsula in direct support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 26 June 2006. Petty Officer Kim was Combat Advisor to an Iraqi Army platoon conducting a combined presence patrol with Naval Special Warfare in South-Central Ar Ramadi in a dangerous insurgent-held neighborhood. As the patrol entered a residence, elements on the street came under heavy enemy fire. Observing a wounded Iraqi soldier lying helplessly 30 meters across an exposed street, Petty Officer Kim, with complete disregard for his own safety, ran through a hail of gunfire with another SEAL to reach the wounded Iraqi soldier. With rounds ricocheting off the street around him, he courageously dragged the wounded soldier to the safety of the courtyard. Moments later, another Iraqi soldier was hit in the head inside the courtyard. Again, he exposed himself to enemy fire and dragged the second wounded soldier inside the house and rendered combat casualty care. Through his heroic actions and courage under fire, Petty Officer Kim saved an Iraqi soldier's life. By his bold initiative, undaunted courage, and complete dedication to duty, Petty Officer Kim reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
