Major Gen. John A. Toolan, Jr., commanding general of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, congratulates Hospitalman 1st Class Patrick B. Quill of 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, after he is awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest award for combat valor, by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus at a ceremony at 1st MSOB headquarters aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif. Dec. 3. Quill was recognized alongside Maj. James T. Rose and SSgt. Frankie J. Shinost, who also received Silver Stars, and Sgt. William B. Soutra, who received the Navy Cross, for extraordinary heroism exhibited during a combat mission in Helmand Province, Afghanistan nearly two years ago (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kyle McNally/Released).