Master Sgt. Michael Hunter is a quiet professional.
In a valor awards ceremony Wednesday morning in front of the 1st Special Force Group (Airborne) Memorial Wall, Hunter, a 17-year veteran and Green Beret, received a Silver Star and Bronze Star with "V" device.
The awards are in recognition for his actions during more than one intense engagement with enemy fighters during a deployment to Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan.
While Hunter had little to say, his actions during two engagements with Taliban fighters spoke volumes.
For his actions resulting in the award of the Silver Star, he led four Special Forces Soldiers and 28 Afghan commandos in a 10-firefight in Baghdis Province.
At times, the Taliban fighters had the small coalition force surrounded. Throughout the encounter, Hunter constantly exposed himself to enemy fire to ensure proper visual recognition and de-confliction with other patrol elements.
"We were in the middle of it," Hunter said in pre-recorded remarks played during the ceremony.
His Afghan comrades put it a bit differently.
"These men are like lions; they don't fear as we do," they said of Hunter and his Special Forces brothers.
In another engagement, Hunter saved the lives of two Soldiers during a 16-hour firefight in Baghdis Province.
During that patrol, an American advisor received a gunshot wound to the chest. Hunter moved uphill, dragged the wounded Soldier to safety and - while under intense fire - performed a needle decompression allowing the wounded Soldier to breath.
When another Soldier was wounded, Hunter moved to his position, moved him to safety and applied a tourniquet.
"He personifies the Army value of Loyalty," Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan I Corps Deputy Commander, said during brief remarks.
"He is loyal to his country; he is loyal to the Special Forces; he is loyal to his brothers in arms. No one was left behind."
