On October 2, 2012, in Afghanistan, then Second Lieutenant Nicholas Dockery led a platoon from the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment when his unit was ambushed by an estimated 150 Taliban fighters.
Ordered to eliminate the threat, Dockery led the counterattack—crossing open ground under fire, clearing enemy-held buildings, and rescuing wounded soldiers.
When a grenade landed nearby, he shielded a fellow soldier from the blast. Later, after an RPG wounded members of his team, he rushed into the fight, killed two enemy fighters attempting to capture a wounded American, and used his own body to protect the casualty from further fire.
As the battle raged, Dockery repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to mark friendly positions for air support and cover the evacuation of the wounded.
He remained on the battlefield until every casualty was safely evacuated, the last man to leave.
Originally awarded the Silver Star, his heroism was later recognized with the Medal of Honor.
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