Mark J. Roland was outnumbered.

Enemy fire was coming from as close as three meters away. It was an outright ambush, as enemy fighters used machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and rifles to attack U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Roland and a group of Afghan forces on June 11, 2007.

But Roland, a State College native, refused to back down, according to an account released by the Army. Next week, he is scheduled to receive the prestigious Silver Star Medal for his valor in combat.

"Sgt. Roland, without regard for his own life, took action to defeat the threat," the Army's report reads. It says that Roland entered a trench, "confronting an enemy at close range.

"Without hesitation, he killed one fighter, cleared his body of weapons and equipment, and continued to fight," the report goes on. "Running low on ammunition, Sgt. Roland reloaded his primary weapon when a second enemy fighter approached" nearby.

Roland and a teammate continued to push back enemy fighters in a wadi -- a low point in the ground -- facing down snipers along the way, according to the report. Then they returned to above-ground fighting, where Roland "again risked his life and mounted a rescue effort" for eight Afghan soldiers trapped in an ambush zone.

All eight made it to safety. Fighting continued for several more hours.

"As a result of his exceptional bravery in voluntarily rescuing eight Afghan soldiers, destroying enemy fighters at close range and leading the actions of a split detachment, Sgt. Roland inspired those around him by his poise, confidence and absolute willingness to risk his life to accomplish the mission and turn the momentum of the fight," the Army report reads.

It notes that Roland's "valorous actions ... are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, Special Operations Command Central, and the United States Army."

Roland joined the Army in 1991 and is married to the former Claire Ellen Intorre, of Boalsburg, according to a government-supplied biography. He has served around the world: in Operation Hurricane Andrew Relief in 1992; in Operation Restore Hope to Somalia in 1993; and as a sergeant in Panama, Chile and Kosovo, among other missions.

Roland has been deployed twice as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, the war in Afghanistan. He is the recipient of multiple military decorations, including the Bronze Star, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army reported.

On Monday, Roland will join six others in receiving the Silver Star Medal, the U.S.' third-highest award granted for valor in combat. All the recipients are being recognized for their service in Operation Enduring Freedom; the ceremony will be held at Fort Bragg, N.C., the Army announced.

Those receiving the medal on Monday will include three other first-class Army sergeants: Los Angeles natives Antonio Gonzalez and David Nunez, and Ketchikan, Alaska, native Jonathan Clouse. Nunez will receive the honor posthumously.

The medal will be given also to two staff sergeants -- Daniel Gould, a native of South Jordan, Utah, and New York City native Mario Pinilla -- and Master Sgt. Julio Bocanegra. Bocanegra is a native of Houston, Texas.