America's North Shore Journal

Silver Star DoD But finally I want to say that earlier this month, I was able to go to a ceremony for a great young American staff sergeant, Brandon Zylstra. He’s a member of 1st Battalion 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. As his convoy was halted to engage the enemy, he immediately dismounted and exposed himself to enemy fire as he took charge, positioning soldiers, directing fires and returning fires himself. Shortly after Sergeant Zylstra’s platoon came under fire, a fellow soldier was wounded. He immediately ran through a hail of enemy bullets across the street to secure him and began to administer first aid. Two additional soldiers came to assist but were also wounded shortly after they arrived. Sergeant Zylstra then assessed the most serious of these casualties and … Read entire article »