Sgt. Scott Montoya
Now, our weekly salute to the men and women, the heroes who defend this country. Tonight, the story of Marine Sergeant Scott Montoya who has been awarded the Navy’s sect highest honor, the Navy Cross. Casey Wian has his story. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It’s 5:30 A.M., and Orange County sheriff deputy Scott Montoya is finishing the 12-hour patrol shift.
SCOTT MONTOYA: Today’s my last day of training so — thank you for all your time and patients.
WIAN: It’s taken Montoya 15 years to win promotion to patrolman because of his other job, a Marine Corps sniper.
MONTOYA: I joined the Marine Corps for the Spree de corps (ph) What they call it in Orange County Sheriff’s Academy. They would walk up to each other and kind of look at each other and kind of see the bad haircut and look at each other like, hey, Marine, you a Marine? Immediately they would be best friends.
WIAN: At dawn, Montoya wears a different hat.
MONTOYA: I come out here every day to look at him. It’s kind of like my therapy.
WIAN: His easy calm with his horses reveals a different side of a man who’s a martial arts expert and war hero.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The president of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Sergeant Scott C. Montoya.
WIAN: On April 8, 2003, the Marines were in a street fight outside Baghdad. Under a barrage of gunfire, Montoya rescued an injured Iraqi civilian, then returned to the middle of the street 5 times to rescue wounded Marines.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of heavy enemy fire and utmost devotion to duty, Sergeant Montoya reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
WIAN: Montoya is humble.
MONTOYA: The scripture in the Bible says no greater love hath no man than a man who lays down his life for his friends. And I believe that in my heart. Is that I would have done it. I never met the Marine before that day, and I haven’t seen him since that day. All those Marines helped out. I never even shooken their hands again. But you know what, I would do it all again. I would do it all again.
WIAN: MONTOYA plans to remain in the Marine Corps and move on to a leadership role in the sheriff’s department. Casey Wian, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DOBBS: Outstanding. And we wish Sergeant Montoya the very best of luck.
April 8, 2003
It’s the day that changed his destiny.
He didn’t have to be a Marine in his 30s crouched in the middle of a firefight in Iraq. He had completed eight years of active duty and was a reservist.
But his “weird patriotism” had taken him away from home for 18 months straight.
As he ran toward the fallen Marine in a hail of gunfire, all he could think about was a passage from the New Testament.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
The brotherhood he had envied for years had him dodging gunfire while he tried to lift the wounded Marine.
But he was too heavy. As Montoya scanned his surroundings, he struggled to remove the Marine’s helmet, ammunition and machine gun to make him lighter.
After what seemed like hours, Montoya, wearing 80 pounds of his own war gear, carried his fellow Marine 500 yards to safety.
That was just the beginning.
Returning to the battle, he spotted another Marine down in the fire-swept street and carried him to safety.
And then he saved another dazed and wounded Marine. And then another who was unconscious. And then another wounded by an explosion.
FP: I am not sure what you are allowed to say in the context of the war itself, but in general how do you think the U.S. is doing in Iraq? What is the best way we will be able to prevail against our enemy? Will we prevail?
Montoya: I think the US is doing an outstanding job. From the administration to the ground troops they have really done what no nation could do. I mean they brought freedom to the oppressed and gave them the right to vote and dictate their own future. Nothing can replace the taste of freedom.
The country as a whole has moved forward so fast. Much faster then the US when we were fighting for independence. The best way to prevail is to not lose our nerve. I think the American people should stand behind the President and tell the other countries that do not have the nerve for this fight: take your toys and depart. For they will think themselves lesser men for it. Stay strong and focused on the mission. Do not lose sight: this is a noble and worthwhile cause. With that in mind, we will prevail.
Lastly, I think the American people who supported out troops should get a big pat on the back. I am maybe only one Marine, but I want to thank you for your support from the bottom of my heart.
I only wish my uncle who came back from Vietnam could see the great sprit of the American people.
FP: What are your future plans?
Montoya: My future plans are to find the “One Girl†of my dreams and start a family.
Any takers?
I really would like to be married and turn the page by starting a family. I hope the Lord shows her to me.
I will continue working in patrol in the city of Stanton, California and patrol the streets to make them safer. I also plan on sharing my story with anyone who wants to know what happened while we were there.
