page_title: Award for Heroism
section_title: Recipients
hierarchical_section_title: Award for Heroism / Recipients
caption_attribution_description: English: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton pins the Department of State Award for Heroism on Principal Officer Lynne Tracy on December 7, 2009 in the Treaty Room
context_page_description: The Award for Heroism is an award of the United States Department of State. It is presented to employees of State, USAID and Marine guards assigned to diplomatic and consular facilities in recognition of acts of courage or outstanding performance under unusually difficult or dangerous circumstances, whether or not in connection with the performance of assigned duties.
  The award consists of a silver medal set and a certificate signed by an assistant secretary, an official of equivalent rank or the Chief of Mission. Due to the location and dangerous nature of their work, the majority of the recipients have been Foreign Service Special Agents of the Diplomatic Security Service.
  The Award for Heroism is a replacement for the former Award for Valor. The basic difference between the two medals is that the Valor Award was issued in 10K gold whereas the Heroism Award is issued in sterling silver. The ribbon reflects this; the designs are almost identical, but the color scheme indicates the precious metal issued with the respective awards.
context_section_description: Matt Sherman, Foreign Service Officer, former Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan for assisting in the rescue of wounded American soldiers following an ambush in the Tangi Valley, Wardak Province, 2009.
  Lynne Tracy, Foreign Service Officer, former Consul General of the U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar, Pakistan, 2007–2009, for service in Pakistan weathering numerous threats and a failed assassination attempt
  Tomas A. Perez, Diplomatic Courier, 2009, for saving lives and ensuring the integrity of diplomatic cargo during an airplane crash
  Paul Peterson, Special Agent, Diplomatic Security Service, RSO, Nairobi, 1998, for Perimeter Protection / search and rescue of injured American employees in the Al Qaeda bombing of the US Embassy, Nairobi, Kenya
  Worley (Lee) Reed, Special Agent / Security Engineering Officer, Diplomatic Security Service, OIC/ESC, Nairobi, 1998, for Leading search and rescue of injured American employees in the Al Qaeda bombing of the US Embassy, Nairobi, Kenya
  Joyce Ann Reed, Information Management Assistant, Communications Office, Nairobi, 1998, for search and rescue / medical evacuation of injured American employees in the Al Qaeda bombing of the US Embassy, Nairobi, Kenya (She is spouse of Worley (Lee) Reed; they are first married couple to win the award for the same incident)
  Stephen J. Nolan, Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Ambassador to Botswana
  Thomas Eckert, Special Agent, Diplomatic Security Service, Burma, 2009, for the rescue of an American family during a flood
  Bryan Bachman, Special Agent, Diplomatic Security Service, Iraq, 2008, for courageous efforts to protect the Basrah Regional Embassy Office from attack
  Daniel Wilhelm, Special Agent, Diplomatic Security Service, Iraq, 2008, for courageous efforts to protect the Basrah Regional Embassy Office from attack
  Michael Poehlitz, Special Agent, Diplomatic Security Service, Nicaragua, 2007, for saving an American citizen from a violent and angry mob
  Christopher Belmonti, Special Agent, Diplomatic Security Service, Haiti, 2004, for risking his life to save American citizens during an evacuation
  Raymond Kyliavas, Special Agent, Diplomatic Security Service, Haiti, 2004, for risking his life to save American citizens during an evacuation
  Alston Richardson, Special Agent, Diplomatic Security Service, Haiti, 2004, for risking his life to save American citizens during an evacuation
  Brian C. Palmatier, Special Agent, assisted an injured U.S. Marine and then immediately rendered first aid preventing the critically injured Marine from going into shock and stabilized his condition until other first responders arrived. Attending surgeons credited SA Palmatier with the Marine’s survival.
  Jason Crosby, Special Agent, after the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq was hit by a rocket, Crosby responded and administered critical medical aid to three severely injured staff and set up an evacuation site. Crosby also led a motorcade out of a sniper ambush and evacuated a wounded colleague.
caption: Secretary Clinton pins Award for Heroism on Principal Officer Lynne Tracy
exif: {}