FORT BLISS, TX - A U.S. Army infantry battalion commander received the Silver Star today for "gallantly carrying out his billet description to the letter" while deployed to Afghanistan last year, according to his award citation.

Lt. Col. Jimmy Matthews, currently assigned as the leader of 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, was honored to receive the nation's third-highest award for his actions during a year-long deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Lt. Col. Matthews' award was submitted by his higher brigade commander Col. Alan Johnson, based on a write-up he solicited from Lt. Col. Matthews.

"This really is something special, I have to say," said Matthews after his award presentation. "When the Colonel said he was putting me up for an award, I was completely shocked. I really had no idea. He originally put it in for the Medal of Honor, but this will certainly do."