thedrifter
07-14-05, 05:59 AM
Marine from BR cited for bravery
Silver Star to be awarded today
By JOE GYAN JR.
jgyan@theadvocate.com
New Orleans bureau
NEW ORLEANS -- A 32-year-old Marine from Baton Rouge will receive the Silver Star today for bravery in combat while serving in Fallujah, Iraq, last year, military officials said Wednesday.
Maj. Jason E. Smith of the 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, will be awarded the nation's third-highest medal for valor during an 11 a.m. ceremony at the Naval Air Station-Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse. Smith was a captain while serving in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
Smith's father, Walter Smith, received the Silver Star during the Vietnam War.
Smith's citation, signed by the secretary of the Navy for the president, says that he led a rescue convoy through Al Fallujah on April 13, 2004, to reach elements of a company "that were surrounded by enemy forces and requiring support to evacuate casualties."
"To me, it wasn't an option to just leave those guys there," Smith, who joined the Marine Corps after graduating from LSU in 1994, said in a telephone interview. He said the dozen stranded members of the company were resupplying forward deployed Marines.
Smith, who lacked accurate location information, used smoke from a burning amphibious assault vehicle to guide his convoy to the stranded platoon, according to the citation. Smith recalled that the smoke gave him "a sinking feeling that something had gone terribly wrong."
"When the rescue convoy slowed due to increased enemy fire, Capt. Smith dismounted his vehicle, raced on foot to the front of the column, and led the convoy to the platoon," the citation states. "Disregarding his own personal safety and while exposed to enemy fire, Capt. Smith returned fire and coordinated counter-attacks on enemy militia.
"As he reached the surrounded platoon, Capt. Smith assessed the situation, organized a strong defensive perimeter around the platoon, and supervised the evacuation of casualties. Discovering remains of a deceased Marine inside a disabled vehicle, he ordered tanks to tow the vehicle back to the base camp. Capt. Smith then coordinated the unit's withdrawal, traveling on foot at the rear of the column until all Marines crossed friendly lines," the citation reads.
Smith, who said the deceased Marine was from New York, said the rescue mission lasted "a couple hours."
Smith, whose "calm demeanor and forceful character bolstered the fighting spirit of his Marines," demonstrated "bold leadership, wise judgment, and dedication to duty," the citation adds. He is being cited for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy."
At the time, Smith was serving as the company commander of Bravo Company 1/5 of the 1st Marine Division.
Smith, who returned from Iraq more than a year ago, is the inspector-instructor of Weapons Company 3/23, a Baton Rouge reserve unit, 1st Sgt. Raymond Mackey said. Smith, an active-duty Marine, said he was not wounded in Iraq.
Lt. Col. David Couvillon, former commander of the 3/23, called Smith "a sterling Marine, a great example and a top flight instructor of Marines."
Couvillon and Smith were not together in Iraq.
Ellie
Silver Star to be awarded today
By JOE GYAN JR.
jgyan@theadvocate.com
New Orleans bureau
NEW ORLEANS -- A 32-year-old Marine from Baton Rouge will receive the Silver Star today for bravery in combat while serving in Fallujah, Iraq, last year, military officials said Wednesday.
Maj. Jason E. Smith of the 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, will be awarded the nation's third-highest medal for valor during an 11 a.m. ceremony at the Naval Air Station-Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse. Smith was a captain while serving in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
Smith's father, Walter Smith, received the Silver Star during the Vietnam War.
Smith's citation, signed by the secretary of the Navy for the president, says that he led a rescue convoy through Al Fallujah on April 13, 2004, to reach elements of a company "that were surrounded by enemy forces and requiring support to evacuate casualties."
"To me, it wasn't an option to just leave those guys there," Smith, who joined the Marine Corps after graduating from LSU in 1994, said in a telephone interview. He said the dozen stranded members of the company were resupplying forward deployed Marines.
Smith, who lacked accurate location information, used smoke from a burning amphibious assault vehicle to guide his convoy to the stranded platoon, according to the citation. Smith recalled that the smoke gave him "a sinking feeling that something had gone terribly wrong."
"When the rescue convoy slowed due to increased enemy fire, Capt. Smith dismounted his vehicle, raced on foot to the front of the column, and led the convoy to the platoon," the citation states. "Disregarding his own personal safety and while exposed to enemy fire, Capt. Smith returned fire and coordinated counter-attacks on enemy militia.
"As he reached the surrounded platoon, Capt. Smith assessed the situation, organized a strong defensive perimeter around the platoon, and supervised the evacuation of casualties. Discovering remains of a deceased Marine inside a disabled vehicle, he ordered tanks to tow the vehicle back to the base camp. Capt. Smith then coordinated the unit's withdrawal, traveling on foot at the rear of the column until all Marines crossed friendly lines," the citation reads.
Smith, who said the deceased Marine was from New York, said the rescue mission lasted "a couple hours."
Smith, whose "calm demeanor and forceful character bolstered the fighting spirit of his Marines," demonstrated "bold leadership, wise judgment, and dedication to duty," the citation adds. He is being cited for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy."
At the time, Smith was serving as the company commander of Bravo Company 1/5 of the 1st Marine Division.
Smith, who returned from Iraq more than a year ago, is the inspector-instructor of Weapons Company 3/23, a Baton Rouge reserve unit, 1st Sgt. Raymond Mackey said. Smith, an active-duty Marine, said he was not wounded in Iraq.
Lt. Col. David Couvillon, former commander of the 3/23, called Smith "a sterling Marine, a great example and a top flight instructor of Marines."
Couvillon and Smith were not together in Iraq.
Ellie