Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Christopher Phillips found out first hand just how hot a typical summer can be in the arid region of Farah, Afghanistan.

The average high temperature routinely tops 100 degrees and can seem even more so since Taliban insurgents had stepped up attacks in the remote southwest corner of Afghanistan.

On July 6, 2007, Phillips, on Individual Augmentee deployment from Naval Hospital Bremerton and attached to Task Force Anzio as medical support for the Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah, came under small arms fire with his team. According to official documents, Phillips demonstrated “courage under fire and selfless disregard for his own safety by running through small arms fire, carrying a wounded casualty to safety and rendering life saving care. Additionally, while his gunner was receiving fire, Phillips again traversed through gunfire to rescue his gunner and maneuvered his vehicle in order to gain gunfire superiority. He identified and established a casualty collection point rendering life and limb saving care and arranged for prompt medical evacuation of five additional casualties while taking fire.”

Due to his efforts, HM1 Phillips was honored and presented with the Bronze Star Medal for Valor by Vice President Richard Cheney at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. “Almost every factor that makes a battlefield tough is found right here in Afghanistan; rugged terrain, lousy weather, great distance, and a nasty brutal enemy,” Vice President Cheney said, who also presented four other awards, including a Silver Star, and re-enlisted six service members.

Major General David Rodriguez, Commander, Combined Joint Task Force-82, attests that Petty Officer Phillip’s bravery, zealous initiative and total dedication to duty reflect great credit upon him, Task Force Anzio, the Combined Joint Task Force-82, and the United States Navy. Phillips was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with “V” Device. The “V” Device is authorized for acts or service involving direct participation in combat operations.

The area of Afghanistan that Phillips found himself stationed has been a crossroads for combat operations throughout history, with Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, and others leaving a legacy of prolonged warfare.

Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah is one of 26 special Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) military units in Afghanistan providing security against Taliban and al Qaeda, as well as helping with reconstruction efforts striving to heal the scars of battle.