Navy Cross

United States Marine Corps

Lance Cpl. Todd Corbin and the rest of his battalion commander’s personal security detachment had just finished several days of routine patrol and had returned to Hadithah Dam when they got the call.

A platoon from the battalion was taking fire on the east side of the Euphrates River, and they needed Marines to block the insurgents’ retreat. Corbin hopped into his 7-ton truck, while other members of the detachment — which was now a quick-reaction force — piled into three Humvees and two tanks and barreled east toward the action.

By the end of May 7, 2005, four Marines would lose their lives, but Corbin’s role in saving more than half of the QRF would earn him the Navy Cross more than a year later. A Marine driving the third Humvee, then-Cpl. Jeff Schuller, would later receive the Silver Star.

That day, the QRF consisting mostly of leathernecks from 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, passed plenty of Iraqis on its way to the west side of the river, but once it passed under the gate into Hadithah, “there was no one out, nothing moving,” Corbin said.

Passing an alley perpendicular to the road, the convoy started turning around. Before the vehicles could all face north, Corbin said, “all hell broke loose.”

A white van tore out of the alley and blew up between two of the Humvees. Then, another explosion “came out of nowhere,” said Corbin, who still isn’t even sure if it was from a roadside bomb or a rocket-propelled grenade. Meanwhile, the enemy pelted the Marines with RPGs, mortars and small-arms fire in a “choke point” surrounded by high ground, Corbin said.

“It was a total nightmare,” said Schuller, now a 26-year-old sergeant.

A Navy corpsman and three QRF Marines — two sergeants and a lance corporal — were killed instantly. Only five of the remaining 15 Marines were unscathed, leaving more than half of the QRF killed or injured, Schuller said.

Corbin, 32, who has since been promoted to corporal, “leapt into the enemy fire, directing Marines to engage and marking targets,” his Navy Cross citation states. He ran to his patrol leader, a seriously injured sergeant, threw him over his shoulder and ran back to the 7-ton, all the while “firing at the enemy with his off-hand,” the citation states.

“He just jumped [out of the 7-ton] and took over,” said Schuller, who added that they were down to uninjured corporals and lance corporals running the QRF at that point. “He immediately started getting the killed and wounded, not thinking of himself.”

When the gunner for Schuller’s Humvee, Lance Cpl. Mark Kalinowski, was hit in the wrist with shrapnel, Schuller jumped up and took the lance corporal’s spot behind the M240G machine gun.

Under intense enemy fire, Schuller gunned down insurgents shooting from the windows, doorways and roof of a nearby hospital, and others shooting from another roof and the alley. He swung his machine gun back and forth between targets for nearly 40 minutes, according to his Silver Star citation, using all of his ammo — short of launching a rocket.

“When the 240 went dry, [Kalinowski] handed me my M16 with a full magazine … as I got the M16 empty, he had a new box of 240 [ammo] waiting for me,” Schuller said.

As that was happening, Corbin raced back and forth through the kill zone, dragging Marines back to the 7-ton. He said he can’t remember how many times he ran across the firing zone.

At one point, Corbin and a wounded Marine were carrying their corpsman to the 7-ton when the enemy opened up with small-arms fire at close range. Corbin leaned over the corpsman to shield him from the action while Schuller pushed back the enemy with his machine gun, the citation says.

Since one gunner had been killed and two were wounded, Corbin said, only one gunner was left, firing a Mark 19 from the 7-ton. When the Mark 19 jammed, the only remaining gunner was Schuller, Corbin said.

“My biggest worry was that we were gonna run out of ammo,” said Schuller, who even fired his 9mm pistol. Schuller was “just short of shooting my AT4 and throwing my Ka-bar” before he dismounted, he said.

He then ran to the 7-ton and helped Corbin load Schuller’s vehicle commander, who had been killed, before he returned through enemy fire to guide Kalinowski to the 7-ton.

Grabbing magazines of ammo from Corbin, Schuller fired his rifle while the rest of the QRF packed into the 7-ton. Any Marine who could fire a weapon had it pointed out of the truck, firing at insurgents, Corbin said. “The 7-ton looked like a porcupine with all these weapons sticking out of it,” he said. It also had three flat tires and a shot-up radiator.

“I don’t even know how this vehicle even ran,” Corbin said.

“The whole platoon rolled out in that 7-ton,” Schuller said. “It’s a testament to Cpl. Corbin’s knowledge of that vehicle that he kept it running.”

Corbin was flipping switches the whole time he drove the five miles back to the battalion aid station, Schuller said.

“Because of [Corbin’s] heroism, no Marine lost his life after the initial attack,” the citation states.

Corbin and Schuller received their medals during a ceremony July 4, 2006 at 3/25’s headquarters in Brook Park, Ohio, an event Schuller said was humbling and a little surreal.

“In hindsight, would I do that again? Hell, I don’t know,” Corbin said. “It’s a situation you want to say yeah, every time, but you don’t know,” he said. “It’s just what you’re trained for … and you do it for your buddies. “I live my life for those who didn’t come home.”

Navy Cross

Citation

For extraordinary heroism in actions against the enemy while serving in a four-man Special Reconnaissance element with SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE, Naval Special Warfare Task unit, Afghanistan from 27 to 28 June 2005. Petty Officer Dietz demonstrated extraordinary heroism in the face of grave danger in the vicinity of Asadabad, Konar Province, Afghanistan.

Operating in the middle of an enemy-controlled area, in extremely rugged terrain, his Special Reconnaissance element was tasked with locating a high-level Anti-Coalition Militia leader, in support of a follow-on direct action mission to disrupt enemy activity. On 28 June 2005, the element was spotted by Anti-Coalition Militia sympathizers, who immediately revealed their position to the militia fighters. As a result, the element directly encountered the enemy. Demonstrating exceptional resolve and fully understanding the gravity of the situation and his responsibility to his teammates, Petty Officer Dietz fought valiantly against the numerically superior and positionally advantaged enemy force. Remaining behind in a hailstorm of enemy fire, Petty Officer Dietz was wounded by enemy fire.

Despite his injuries, he bravely fought on, valiantly defending his teammates and himself in a harrowing gunfight, until he was mortally wounded. By his undaunted courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, and absolute devotion to his teammates, Petty Officer Dietz will long be remembered for the role he played in the Global War on Terrorism. Petty Officer Dietz’ courageous and selfless heroism, exceptional professional skill, and utmost devotion to duty reflected great credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for the cause of freedom.

This is the same battle for which Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew G. Axelson received his Navy Cross.

8/31/2006

9/22/2006

Navy Cross

Marine Corps Times

His actions on Nov. 11, 2004, in Fallujah, Iraq, have earned him the Navy Cross, the Navy’s second highest award for valor. The medal was presented to him during a ceremony at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., during a recruit graduation ceremony Jan. 19.

McDade, a drill instructor with Charlie Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, was a machine-gun squad leader with 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, in Iraq in 2004.

On the night of Nov. 11, as the Marines in the platoon moved south into the city, they entered an alley where they immediately met a barrage of small-arms and machine-gun fire, according to McDade’s citation.

“In the opening seconds of the engagement, three Marines were seriously wounded as the well-positioned and expecting enemy pinned others down,” the citation states.

McDade “rushed from the rear of the platoon column toward the kill zone,” leading a machine-gun team into the alley to spray suppressive fire at insurgents.

The wounded Marines were pinned down under a blanket of gunfire that spewed furiously every time the other Marines tried to reach their injured comrades.

McDade told the platoon sergeant that he would get them.

“He just informed me that if I got hit he wasn’t going to be able to help me right then,” McDade said in an interview. “I wasn’t just going to let them sit out there like sitting ducks. They needed me, and I went.”

McDade, a fast-talking Houston native, described the alleyway as “real hot” as he dashed toward the first of the three injured Marines.

Using his body to cover the wounded leatherneck, McDade told him to pull his gear loose and then pulled the Marine over his shoulder.

“At first, he was on my shoulder, but there were a lot of rounds coming down the alleyway, so I kind of tossed him over,” he said.

McDade went back a second time, instructing the next wounded Marine to remove his gear before hauling him to safety.

The third Marine, a corporal killed in the alley, was also pulled from the kill zone.

WTOC 11

“We encountered an ambush in the alley way in Falujah,” said McDade. “They were pinned down and we were immobile. I talked with my gunner and told him I would go out of there. I went out there with the best of my ability and did what I could do. I got three Marines out of an ambush, one had a severed left leg.”

While his acts are heroic in most of our minds, Sgt McDade says it was just part of his duty.

“No time to think, you have a mission and you need to get it done,” said McDade. “If you think about getting shot, that is more than likely what will happen.”

McDade remains humble about receiving the second highest award in the Marine Corps.

“It was an award for me but it was on behalf of all the Marines,” said McDade. “Like I said, the Marines who have fallen, the new Marines today and the Marines that deserve recognition that have not been recognized yet, so I feel good, but if I could give it back, though, I would for the Marine’s life to come back.”

U.S. Marines prepare to step off on a patrol through the city of Fallujah, Iraq, to clear the city of insurgent activity and weapons caches as part of Operation al Fajr (New Dawn) on Nov. 26, 2004. The Marines are (from left to right) Platoon Sergeant Staff Sgt. Eric Brown, Machine Gun Section Leader Sgt. Aubrey McDade, Radio Operator Cpl. Steven Archibald, and Combat Engineer Lance Cpl. Robert Coburn. All are assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division conducting security and stabilization operations in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan C. Knauth, U.S. Marine Corp.

Navy Cross

Marine Corps News

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (May 3, 2004) — Marine Sgt. Marcos A. Martinez received the Navy Cross from the Secretary of the Navy, Honorable Gordon R. England, during a ceremony Monday at 5th Marine Regiment parade deck here.

“These brave Marines did good things without notice,” said England, “and without the acclaim of crowds. But they got the acclaim of their fellow Marines.”

Martinez, 22, a Las Cruces, N.M., native, received the naval service’s second highest award for extraordinary heroism while serving as first fire team leader for 2nd squad, 1st Platoon, Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom April 12, 2003. The Medal of Honor is the highest military award.

A corporal at the time, Martinez responded to a call to reinforce 1st Platoon, which was under attack by enemy forces. Under fire, Martinez deployed his team in supporting positions for a squad assault.

He assumed control after his squad leader was wounded. While other Marines tended to the wounded squad leader, Martinez single-handedly assaulted the building and killed four enemy soldiers with a grenade and his rifle.

“All of the training is what helped me out,” said Martinez. “I relied on my training.”

USA Today

The battle for Baghdad in April 2003 ended with the collapse of the Iraqi government and military under Saddam Hussein.

It took less than three weeks, but there were many fights in around the capital before it ended.

Sgt. Joseph Perez, 26, was the lead man in a squad that was out front of a Marine force moving into the city on April 4. With the Marines under intense fire, Perez, then a lance corporal, led a charge down a trench, firing his rifle and throwing a grenade to kill enemy fighters.

At one point he destroyed a machine gun bunker with a rocket launcher, killing four Iraqis. That allowed his squad to capture that position.

According to his citation, Perez continued to advance and fire at enemy fighters. Wounded by gunfire, he still directed his squad members to where they could open fire and finish off the enemy fighters.

On April 8, Sgt. Scott Montoya, was organizing Marine defenses when a company came under attack. Five different times, Montoya, 37, a Marine reservist, ran across open ground swept by enemy fire to rescue people. When an Iraqi civilian car was caught in the crossfire, Montoya dragged a wounded passenger to safety.

He led a dazed Marine to safety, dragged another one who was unconscious out of the line of fire and rescued a third, carrying him several hundred yards.

“My legs were burning like there was battery acid pumping through them,” says Montoya, today a sheriff’s deputy in Orange County, Calif. “I knew there was no way, while I had a breath of air in my lungs that I was going to leave that Marine lying there.”

On April 12, former Marine Cpl. Marco Martinez, 25, led an assault on Iraqi positions in Tarmiya, just north of Baghdad. When his squad leader was struck down by a grenade blast, Martinez assumed command. He led his Marines first through one building filled with enemy fighters and then into a second compound where resistance was even stiffer.

After a wall was breached in that second compound, Martinez led his troops into a large courtyard where they immediately came under fire from an adobe shed transformed by Iraqi fighters into a bunker. The Marines were pinned down behind palm trees.

The fighting became furious. Martinez spotted an enemy rocket launcher on the ground and ran into the open to retrieve it. He was trying to figure out how to fire it when a Marine near him was struck by a bullet in the spine. He dropped to the ground paralyzed.

Enemy riflemen turned their attention on the fallen Marine. Reacting to this, Martinez finally managed to fire the rocket at the bunker. This stunned the Iraqis for several seconds, allowing two other Marines to rush to aid their fallen comrade.

Gunfire from the bunker quickly resumed. So Martinez charged at it, emptying his rifle and then prepping a grenade which he threw into a gunport on the shed. The explosion killed all but one fighter inside. That man aimed his rifle at Martinez but Martinez killed him first.

“Within seconds, I stopped the firefight right there with that,” he said.

Perez, Montoya and Martinez each received the Navy Cross.

Navy Cross

Marine Corps News

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (May 6, 2004) — Marine Pfc. Joseph B. Perez received the Navy Cross Medal from the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, Gen. Michael W. Hagee, during an awards ceremony Thursday at Marine Corps Air-Ground Training Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Perez, 23, a Houston, Texas, native, received the naval service’s second highest award for extraordinary heroism while serving as a rifleman with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom April 4, 2003. The Medal of Honor is the highest military award.

Three other Marines received medals for valor at the same ceremony.

“They are the reflection of the Marine Corps type who’s service to the Marine Corps and country is held above their own safety and lives,” said Gen. Hagee, commenting on the four Marines who received medals during the ceremony. “I’m proud to be here awarding the second highest and third highest awards for bravery to these great Marines.”

“These four Marines are a reflection of every Marine and sailor in this great battalion,” said Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. John L. Estrada.

1st Platoon came under intense enemy fire while clearing near Route 6 during the advance into Baghdad. Perez, the point man for the lead squad, and therefore the most exposed member of the platoon, came under the majority of these fires.

Without hesitation, he continuously fired his M16A4 rifle to destroy the enemy while calmly directing accurate fires for his squad. He led the charge down a trench destroying the enemy and while closing and under tremendous enemy fire, threw a grenade into a trench that the enemy was occupying. While under a heavy volume of fire, Perez fired an AT-4 rocket into a machine gun bunker, completely destroying it and killing four enemy personnel. His actions enabled the squad to maneuver safely to the enemy position and seize it.

In an effort to link up with 3rd Platoon on his platoon’s left flank, Perez continued to destroy enemy combatants with precision rifle fire. As he worked his way to the left, he was hit by enemy fire, sustaining gunshot wounds to his torso and shoulder. Despite being seriously injured, Perez directed the squad to take cover and gave the squad accurate fire direction to the enemy that enabled the squad to reorganize and destroy the enemy.

“It is unreal, it is not what I expected, it is unbelievable,” Perez said. “This is real weird for me, because, I am not big on special events,” said Perez.

USA Today

The battle for Baghdad in April 2003 ended with the collapse of the Iraqi government and military under Saddam Hussein.

It took less than three weeks, but there were many fights in around the capital before it ended.

Sgt. Joseph Perez, 26, was the lead man in a squad that was out front of a Marine force moving into the city on April 4. With the Marines under intense fire, Perez, then a lance corporal, led a charge down a trench, firing his rifle and throwing a grenade to kill enemy fighters.

At one point he destroyed a machine gun bunker with a rocket launcher, killing four Iraqis. That allowed his squad to capture that position.

According to his citation, Perez continued to advance and fire at enemy fighters. Wounded by gunfire, he still directed his squad members to where they could open fire and finish off the enemy fighters.

On April 8, Sgt. Scott Montoya, was organizing Marine defenses when a company came under attack. Five different times, Montoya, 37, a Marine reservist, ran across open ground swept by enemy fire to rescue people. When an Iraqi civilian car was caught in the crossfire, Montoya dragged a wounded passenger to safety.

He led a dazed Marine to safety, dragged another one who was unconscious out of the line of fire and rescued a third, carrying him several hundred yards.

“My legs were burning like there was battery acid pumping through them,” says Montoya, today a sheriff’s deputy in Orange County, Calif. “I knew there was no way, while I had a breath of air in my lungs that I was going to leave that Marine lying there.”

On April 12, former Marine Cpl. Marco Martinez, 25, led an assault on Iraqi positions in Tarmiya, just north of Baghdad. When his squad leader was struck down by a grenade blast, Martinez assumed command. He led his Marines first through one building filled with enemy fighters and then into a second compound where resistance was even stiffer.

After a wall was breached in that second compound, Martinez led his troops into a large courtyard where they immediately came under fire from an adobe shed transformed by Iraqi fighters into a bunker. The Marines were pinned down behind palm trees.

The fighting became furious. Martinez spotted an enemy rocket launcher on the ground and ran into the open to retrieve it. He was trying to figure out how to fire it when a Marine near him was struck by a bullet in the spine. He dropped to the ground paralyzed.

Enemy riflemen turned their attention on the fallen Marine. Reacting to this, Martinez finally managed to fire the rocket at the bunker. This stunned the Iraqis for several seconds, allowing two other Marines to rush to aid their fallen comrade.

Gunfire from the bunker quickly resumed. So Martinez charged at it, emptying his rifle and then prepping a grenade which he threw into a gunport on the shed. The explosion killed all but one fighter inside. That man aimed his rifle at Martinez but Martinez killed him first.

“Within seconds, I stopped the firefight right there with that,” he said.

Perez, Montoya and Martinez each received the Navy Cross.