WASHINGTON – An Army colonel was given the second-highest award for valor for his actions during a furious firefight last year in Iraq when he rallied some Iraqi commandos to defend their position against an insurgent assault.

Colonel James H. Coffman Jr., who was wounded during the November 14 gun battle at Mosul, received the Distinguished Service Cross in a ceremony in Baghdad on Wednesday. It’s the first time this award has been given in Iraq, a spokesman said.

Last November, insurgents attacked several police stations in Mosul, leading to chaos in parts of the city. According to the military’s account of his actions, Colonel Coffman was with a group of Iraqi commandos moving to reinforce one police station that was under attack when insurgents ambushed them.

All but one of the commando team’s officers were killed or seriously wounded early in the fight, leaving Colonel Coffman, an adviser to the commandos, and the single Iraqi officer, to direct the battle.

“Coffman exhibited truly inspirational leadership, rallying the commandos and organizing a hasty defense while attempting to radio higher headquarters for reinforcements,” his award reads. “Under heavy fire, he moved from commando to commando, looking each in the eye, and using hand and arm signals to demonstrate what he wanted done.”

During the fight, he was shot in his left hand, his shooting hand, a shot that wrecked his gun. He picked up AK-47s from the wounded Iraqis and kept shooting, using his right hand. He also redistributed ammunition among the surviving Iraqis who were with him.

The battle lasted four hours, ending only after American armored vehicles and air support arrived. Colonel Coffman consented to be evacuated for medical treatment only after all of the Iraqi wounded were evacuated.

Twelve Iraqi commandos were killed, as were 25 insurgents, the military said.

Colonel Coffman, a native of Lebanon, Ind., attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. He is married to Patricia Jane Whiteley of Berkeley, Calif.

In an interview with Associated Press Radio, Colonel Coffman said he’s mostly recovered from his wound.

“I can’t snap my fingers. My performance days on stage are probably over,” he joked. “But it seems to be working pretty well.”

The Distinguished Service Cross is second only to the Medal of Honor in recognizing bravery in combat by an Army soldier. One Medal of Honor has been awarded for actions in Iraq, to Army Sergeant 1st Class Paul Ray Smith, who was killed during a firefight near the Baghdad airport during the initial American-led invasion of Iraq.