thedrifter
09-12-08, 07:42 AM
A Silver Star for Princeton native
Friday, September 12, 2008
BY ROBERT STERN
The deadly, close-range firefight that destroyed Capt. Gianoulis "John" Roussos' armored Humvee in southwestern Iraq lasted no more than 90 seconds, the Princeton-born Marine said.
Roussos put his own life on the line as he bolted from the Humvee to draw fire away from the four men under his command in the crippled vehicle, gunning down two of the insurgents along the way in the bloody March 7 encounter.
The maneuver worked and earned Roussos the Silver Star Medal, which he will receive today in a ceremony at Camp Lejeune, N.C., said 1st Lt. Philip W. Klay, spokesman for the 2nd Marine Di vision.
The Silver Star is the U.S. military's third-highest honor for heroism under fire.
Far more important than any award, Roussos said, was that he and the other Marines of Bravo Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, engaged in that showdown survived it without injury.
Roussos said he doesn't think he did anything beyond what his position called for in that situation.
"I just kind of view it as doing my job," he said. Even so, he considers it his most unnerving confrontation in Iraq.
"This incident was very intense for that one minute, minute-and-a- half," said Roussos, 27, who has served three separate tours in Iraq since 2005. "It was very intense fire. I look at it as luck that I didn't get hit."
When the dust settled, all five attacking insurgents lay dead, their stockpile of armor-piercing ammu nition, grenades, sniper rifles and a rocket-propelled-grenade launcher taken out of commission from their disabled pickup truck.
"It was a miracle that none of us got hurt," said Roussos, considering the firefight took place in open desert across a distance no longer than a football field.
Roussos credits the actions of his fellow Marines for fending off the attack unscathed.
"We wouldn't be here today if it weren't for my guys," said Roussos, who graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy instead of attending his hometown Princeton High School. Later, he graduated from Norwich University, a military academy in Vermont.
"Luckily, none of my guys were hurt," he said.
That's largely a credit to Rous sos' valor, said Maj. Fred Courtney, executive officer for the 2nd Recon naissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division.
Roussos "knowingly and willingly exposed himself to enemy fire with the intent of drawing fire away from his machine gunner and driver, and risked his life for his men," Courtney said in a press re lease.
He "exemplifies what you think a Marine should be," Courtney said. "He's charismatic, extremely knowledgeable and dedicated to the Marines and his job. He has fierce determination when it comes to mission accomplishment and won't let anything stand in his way."
John Roussos' younger brother, Theo Roussos of Princeton Township, said he and the rest of the family are proud of his conduct and glad he has served his country without combat injury.
"I think it's so cool," Theo Roussos said of his sibling's Silver Star. "I have total respect for my brother."
Contact Robert Stern at rstern@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5731.
Ellie
Friday, September 12, 2008
BY ROBERT STERN
The deadly, close-range firefight that destroyed Capt. Gianoulis "John" Roussos' armored Humvee in southwestern Iraq lasted no more than 90 seconds, the Princeton-born Marine said.
Roussos put his own life on the line as he bolted from the Humvee to draw fire away from the four men under his command in the crippled vehicle, gunning down two of the insurgents along the way in the bloody March 7 encounter.
The maneuver worked and earned Roussos the Silver Star Medal, which he will receive today in a ceremony at Camp Lejeune, N.C., said 1st Lt. Philip W. Klay, spokesman for the 2nd Marine Di vision.
The Silver Star is the U.S. military's third-highest honor for heroism under fire.
Far more important than any award, Roussos said, was that he and the other Marines of Bravo Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, engaged in that showdown survived it without injury.
Roussos said he doesn't think he did anything beyond what his position called for in that situation.
"I just kind of view it as doing my job," he said. Even so, he considers it his most unnerving confrontation in Iraq.
"This incident was very intense for that one minute, minute-and-a- half," said Roussos, 27, who has served three separate tours in Iraq since 2005. "It was very intense fire. I look at it as luck that I didn't get hit."
When the dust settled, all five attacking insurgents lay dead, their stockpile of armor-piercing ammu nition, grenades, sniper rifles and a rocket-propelled-grenade launcher taken out of commission from their disabled pickup truck.
"It was a miracle that none of us got hurt," said Roussos, considering the firefight took place in open desert across a distance no longer than a football field.
Roussos credits the actions of his fellow Marines for fending off the attack unscathed.
"We wouldn't be here today if it weren't for my guys," said Roussos, who graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy instead of attending his hometown Princeton High School. Later, he graduated from Norwich University, a military academy in Vermont.
"Luckily, none of my guys were hurt," he said.
That's largely a credit to Rous sos' valor, said Maj. Fred Courtney, executive officer for the 2nd Recon naissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division.
Roussos "knowingly and willingly exposed himself to enemy fire with the intent of drawing fire away from his machine gunner and driver, and risked his life for his men," Courtney said in a press re lease.
He "exemplifies what you think a Marine should be," Courtney said. "He's charismatic, extremely knowledgeable and dedicated to the Marines and his job. He has fierce determination when it comes to mission accomplishment and won't let anything stand in his way."
John Roussos' younger brother, Theo Roussos of Princeton Township, said he and the rest of the family are proud of his conduct and glad he has served his country without combat injury.
"I think it's so cool," Theo Roussos said of his sibling's Silver Star. "I have total respect for my brother."
Contact Robert Stern at rstern@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5731.
Ellie