U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Timothy Williams, center right, a section leader with the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, salutes Lt. Gen. John Toolan, center left, the commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, during an award ceremony at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 7, 2014. During the ceremony, Williams received a Silver Star and a Purple Heart for his actions in Afghanistan, where he maintained a tactical advantage while being ambushed by a larger enemy force. Williams helped save the lives of multiple Marines and destroyed several enemy positions during a 10-hour attack.