Sgt. Miguelange G. Madrigal, a radio Supporting Arms Liaison Team G, 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, salutes Lt. Gen. Steven A. Hummer, commander of Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North, after being awarded a Silver Star Medal aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, Jan. 31, 2013. Madrigal was awarded the nation’s third highest honor for his actions as a member of a squad patrol that was pinned down by insurgent fire. On Feb. 15, 2008, he repelled an enemy attack, rushed to save a fellow Marine, called in multiple fire-support missions, and called in a casualty evacuation. (U.S. Marine Corps photochief with by Cpl. Marcin Platek/Released)

DVIDS
Story by Cpl. Marcin Platek

A Silver Star Medal was presented to Sgt. Miguelange G. Madrigal of 3rd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, Force Headquarters Group, Marine Forces Reserve, at a ceremony aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, Jan. 31st.

Lt. Gen. Steven A. Hummer, the commander of MARFORRES and Marine Forces North, presented the medal and later expressed the boldness of Madrigal’s actions.
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Marines apply a tourniquet and pressure dressing to Woodstock, Ga., native, Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Cole (center) after he was shot twice in the left arm. This photo was taken during a firefight in Marjah Afghanistan after a patrol came under fire from enemy insurgents. Six of the 10 service members on the patrol were wounded, yet Cole continued to provide suppressing fire toward enemy positions to ensure the safety of his fellow Marines. Courtesy Photo

DVIDS
Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew

He watched as five Marines beside him dropped, struck by the sheer force of insurgent machine gun fire. Within seconds, Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Cole joined his brothers as a three-round burst lifted his 200-pound frame and 80 pounds of gear completely off the ground, moved him five feet in the air, and slammed him into the dirt– all in less than half a second.
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Brig. Gen. Daniel D. Yoo, commanding general, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and the Western Recruiting Region, pins a Silver Star on Sgt. Phillip A. McCulloch Jr., drill instructor, Company M, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, during the morning colors ceremony aboard MCRD Feb 10.

While performing a route reconnaissance in the Sangin District, Afghanistan, Sgt. Phillip A. McCulloch Jr. and his squad heard an explosion off to the northeast as they were crossing the Helmand River.

Moments later, his team was ambushed by three machine gun positions and they took cover in the riverbank. The coming engagement resulted in McCulloch squad leader for 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) Afghanistan, having to make many critical decisions to ensure the safe return of his 21-man team Jan. 8, 2011.
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Lance Cpl. Cody Goebel, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, marches in front of the colors during his Silver Star award ceremony, Dec. 14, 2011. Goebel was awarded the Silver Star for actions while he was in Afghanistan with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. Goebel was shot in the neck while on post in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Ignoring his wound, he returned fire and refused medical attention until he was properly relieved. Goebel will return to Afghanistan next year with 2nd Battalion.

One moment he’s on guard duty, the next he’s on the ground bleeding. The Marine takes a moment to collect his thoughts, picks himself up despite the pain and knows he has a job to do.

Lance Cpl. Cody Goebel had taken a bullet to the neck while guarding a position vital to his squad’s defense while serving with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

With an arterial wound to his neck, Goebel stood tall and refused medical aid until he was properly relieved and another Marine could man his position.
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Navy Petty Officer First Class Amilcar Rodriguez, a corpsman previously assigned to 2d Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, shakes hands with MARSOC commander Maj. Gen. Paul E. Lefebvre during an awards ceremony at MARSOC Headquarters June 24, 2011, in which he was awarded the Silver Star for his extraordinary heroism while conducting combat operations in Bala Morghab, Afghanistan Nov. 6, 2009.

A Navy corpsman previously assigned to 2d Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, was awarded the Silver Star – the nation’s third-highest military decoration for valor in combat – for his extraordinary heroism while conducting combat operations in Bala Morghab, Afghanistan on Nov. 6, 2009.
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