GunnerMike
06-14-04, 10:38 AM
Corps bestows valor awards to Iraqi soldiers who saved Marine
Iraq Now | 6/14/04
Top Marine Corps commanders in Iraq bestowed valor awards June 11 upon five Iraqi Civil Defense Corps soldiers credited with saving the life of a Marine when their joint patrol was ambushed in May. The awards, two Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medals and three Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals — all with combat “V”s — were presented by Maj. Gen. James N. Mattis, commander of the 1st Marine Division, and Col. John Toolan, who commands Regimental Combat Team 1.
According to award citations provided by 1st Marine Division, the Iraqi riflemen and members of Charlie and Bravo companies, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, from Camp Pendleton, Calif., came under fire about 9 p.m. May 30 in Kharma, a village near Fallujah.
When gunfire struck one Marine in his lower left leg, ICDC Pvts. Kather Nazar Abbas and Imad Abid Zeid Jassim rushed to his aid and dragged him to safety. Both soldiers continued firing at the enemy gunmen while a Navy corpsman treated the wounded Marine, who was not identified.
The Iraqi soldiers’ gunfire and fire support from three other Iraqi troops ultimately drove the gunmen from the area.
Both soldiers’ “decisive and aggressive action and superb performance under fire were far above expectation” for soldiers of their rank and experience, officials said in a written summary of the actions for which the two were awarded the commendation medals.
Their “quick thinking and brave actions clearly helped save the life of the Marine and turned the tide of the ambush,” their award citations read.
Three other ICDC soldiers — Sgt. Abdullah Sadoon Isa, Cpl. Eiub Muhamad Hussane and Pvt. Ahmad Lazim Garib — each received a Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal with “V.”
The medals were presented at an ICDC graduation ceremony at Camp India, near the town of Nassar Wa Salaam, east of Fallujah.
Iraq Now | 6/14/04
Top Marine Corps commanders in Iraq bestowed valor awards June 11 upon five Iraqi Civil Defense Corps soldiers credited with saving the life of a Marine when their joint patrol was ambushed in May. The awards, two Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medals and three Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals — all with combat “V”s — were presented by Maj. Gen. James N. Mattis, commander of the 1st Marine Division, and Col. John Toolan, who commands Regimental Combat Team 1.
According to award citations provided by 1st Marine Division, the Iraqi riflemen and members of Charlie and Bravo companies, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, from Camp Pendleton, Calif., came under fire about 9 p.m. May 30 in Kharma, a village near Fallujah.
When gunfire struck one Marine in his lower left leg, ICDC Pvts. Kather Nazar Abbas and Imad Abid Zeid Jassim rushed to his aid and dragged him to safety. Both soldiers continued firing at the enemy gunmen while a Navy corpsman treated the wounded Marine, who was not identified.
The Iraqi soldiers’ gunfire and fire support from three other Iraqi troops ultimately drove the gunmen from the area.
Both soldiers’ “decisive and aggressive action and superb performance under fire were far above expectation” for soldiers of their rank and experience, officials said in a written summary of the actions for which the two were awarded the commendation medals.
Their “quick thinking and brave actions clearly helped save the life of the Marine and turned the tide of the ambush,” their award citations read.
Three other ICDC soldiers — Sgt. Abdullah Sadoon Isa, Cpl. Eiub Muhamad Hussane and Pvt. Ahmad Lazim Garib — each received a Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal with “V.”
The medals were presented at an ICDC graduation ceremony at Camp India, near the town of Nassar Wa Salaam, east of Fallujah.