COLLEGE STATION, Texas-- A local Army Reserve Warrior Citizen joined the ranks of Soldiers to include Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Gen. George S. Patton today.

On the 65th anniversary of D-Day, Spc. David Hutchinson was honored in a ceremony at Simpson Drill Field on the Texas A&M University campus.

Hutchinson is the fifth Army Reserve Soldier to be awarded the Silver Star Medal, which is the third highest award for valor in combat.

While deployed with the 420th Engineer Brigade in Afghanistan, Hutchinson saved the life of his 1st Sgt., and contributed to the safety of the other Soldiers in their convoy when they were ambushed in a mountain pass.

During her visit to College Station yesterday, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson expressed her pride and gratitude to Hutchinson and his fellow Soldiers.

Today, Maj. Gen. Paul E. Crandall, Hutchinson's commander in theater, pinned Hutchinson with his Silver Star while a crowd of family and friends looked on.

Texas Congressman Chet Edwards, who was the guest speaker at the ceremony, voiced his pride in the service members of America's armed forces.

"I just think it is appropriate that on the 65th anniversary of America's invasion of Normandy that we're honoring a U.S. Army Reservist, Spc. David Hutchinson of Texas, who represents the kind of Citizen Soldier who spilled his blood on the beach that day," said Edwards.