thedrifter
09-09-09, 09:07 AM
Bonar Represents W.Va. In Hometown Marine Program
By FRED CONNORS
POSTED: September 9, 2009
U.S. Marine Sgt. Maj. Lee D. Bonar Jr. returned to his childhood roots Tuesday to be honored for his heroics while under fire in Iraq.
Bonar - a 49-year-old Wheeling native with 24 years of military service - has been selected as West Virginia's representative in the Marine Corps' national Hometown Marine Program.
"The Marine Corps headquarters in Quantico, Va., had a huge list of Marines who had received awards in conjunction with combat," said Sgt. Martin Harris of the Cleveland recruiting center. "The sergeant major received the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal with the Combat 'V' for valor. It is something the sergeant major did to protect Marines, save Marines' lives or get them evacuated when they were injured."
Since completing recruit training in 1985 at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, S.C., Bonar has served in a variety of units. After returning from Iraq, he is now with the III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan.
Bonar - who traveled from Japan to Wheeling to participate in Tuesday's ceremony - talked about the combat medal but declined to offer specifics.
"A combat 'V' on any type of Marine Corps award is for valor," Bonar said. "It means showing an increased level of leadership during a time of combat. I can't go into specifics about exactly what was going on at that time. When the combat 'V' is attached to a medal, it means the event happened during a live fire.
"The Marine Corps taught me that there is so much good out of sacrifice," Bonar told the group that assembled in his honor Tuesday. "When you live your life for others and you live your life to be a greater part of something other than your individual self - when you are a part of that team - your life has so much more meaning and you are so much more alive."
Other medals held by Bonar include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star, the Combat Action Ribbon and the Presidential Unit Citation.
Bonar is married to the former Margaret Ann Silveria of Oakland, Calif. They have a daughter, Adrian, and a son, Zachary.
The Wheeling Marine League presented colors at Tuesday's ceremony, and members of the Wheeling Park High School band played the national anthem. Speakers included Bonar, Wheeling Mayor Andy McKenzie, U.S. Marine Capt. Jason Grim of the Fourth Marine Corps Recruiting District and Shane Walters of Lamar Advertising.
Ellie
By FRED CONNORS
POSTED: September 9, 2009
U.S. Marine Sgt. Maj. Lee D. Bonar Jr. returned to his childhood roots Tuesday to be honored for his heroics while under fire in Iraq.
Bonar - a 49-year-old Wheeling native with 24 years of military service - has been selected as West Virginia's representative in the Marine Corps' national Hometown Marine Program.
"The Marine Corps headquarters in Quantico, Va., had a huge list of Marines who had received awards in conjunction with combat," said Sgt. Martin Harris of the Cleveland recruiting center. "The sergeant major received the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal with the Combat 'V' for valor. It is something the sergeant major did to protect Marines, save Marines' lives or get them evacuated when they were injured."
Since completing recruit training in 1985 at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, S.C., Bonar has served in a variety of units. After returning from Iraq, he is now with the III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan.
Bonar - who traveled from Japan to Wheeling to participate in Tuesday's ceremony - talked about the combat medal but declined to offer specifics.
"A combat 'V' on any type of Marine Corps award is for valor," Bonar said. "It means showing an increased level of leadership during a time of combat. I can't go into specifics about exactly what was going on at that time. When the combat 'V' is attached to a medal, it means the event happened during a live fire.
"The Marine Corps taught me that there is so much good out of sacrifice," Bonar told the group that assembled in his honor Tuesday. "When you live your life for others and you live your life to be a greater part of something other than your individual self - when you are a part of that team - your life has so much more meaning and you are so much more alive."
Other medals held by Bonar include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star, the Combat Action Ribbon and the Presidential Unit Citation.
Bonar is married to the former Margaret Ann Silveria of Oakland, Calif. They have a daughter, Adrian, and a son, Zachary.
The Wheeling Marine League presented colors at Tuesday's ceremony, and members of the Wheeling Park High School band played the national anthem. Speakers included Bonar, Wheeling Mayor Andy McKenzie, U.S. Marine Capt. Jason Grim of the Fourth Marine Corps Recruiting District and Shane Walters of Lamar Advertising.
Ellie