1stSgt Justin Lehew Navy Cross recipient

[Sgt Grunt]

I had the humbling honor of meeting 1st Sgt Lehew who earned the Navy Cross in An Nasiriyah in 2004. He was at the funeral for Sgt Nick Walsh who was killed by sniper fire in Fallujah, May 26. The funeral was held in Ft Collins, Colorado.

I was, as I said above humbled by this great Marine, he was only about 5 foot 8 inches tall but seemed to be 10 feet tall... He said, "there was a lot of blood shed for this medal to be placed on my chest". Though he seemed very proud to wear it, it seemed to me that he would give it back in a heartbeat to have those lost, returned...

My meeting with 1stSgt Lehew was brief, however I will truely remember it forever. I would love the oppotunity to talk with him for a longer time.

If anyone that reads this post has any stories of this great Marine, please share them.

Semper Fi, and Semper Fi 1stSgt Lehew

D. Bragg (Sgt USMC)

[yellowwing]

Justin D. Lehew
Gunnery Sergeant, United States Marine Corps

For Services as Set Forth in the Following

Citation:
For extraordinary heroism as Amphibious Assault Platoon Sergeant, Company A, 1st Battalion, 2d Marines, Task Force Tarawa, I Marine Expeditionary Force in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 23 and 24 March 2003.

As Regimental Combat Team 2 attacked north towards An Nasiriyah, Iraq, lead elements of the Battalion came under heavy enemy fire. When the beleaguered United States Army 507th Maintenance Company convoy was spotted in the distance, Gunnery Sergeant Lehew and his crew were dispatched to rescue the soldiers. Under constant enemy fire, he led the rescue team to the soldiers.

With total disregard for his own welfare, he assisted the evacuation effort of four soldiers, two of whom were critically wounded. While still receiving enemy fire, he climbed back into his vehicle and immediately began suppressing enemy infantry.

During the subsequent company attack on the eastern bridge over the Euphrates River, Gunnery Sergeant Lehew continuously exposed himself to withering enemy fire during the three-hour urban firefight. His courageous battlefield presence inspired his Marines to fight a determined foe and allowed him to position his platoon's heavy machine guns to repel numerous waves of attackers. In the midst of the battle, an Amphibious Assault Vehicle was destroyed, killing or wounding all its occupants.

Gunnery Sergeant Lehew immediately moved to recover the nine Marines. He again exposed himself to a barrage of fire as he worked for nearly an hour recovering casualties from the wreckage. By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, and utmost devotion to duty,

Gunnery Sergeant Lehew reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

B]Semper Fi Gunny Lehew[/B]

[ggyoung]

This MARINE should have the MOH.