Marines award Bronze Star posthumously to Jerabek family

[thedrifter]

Posted on Sun, Sep. 25, 2005
Marines award Bronze Star posthumously to Jerabek family
Associated Press

HOBART, Wis. - The Marines have awarded the Bronze Star to an 18-year-old soldier who was killed in Iraq trying to protect his fellow Marines.

Pfc. Ryan Jerabek of Hobart died in an ambush at Ramadi, Iraq, on April 6, 2004.

His parents, Ken and Rita Jerabek, accepted the Marine Corps' fourth-highest medal for bravery - the Bronze Star - during a ceremony at their Hobart home Saturday.

"Combat will test everything a person is made of," said Marine Capt. Sean Schickel, the former commanding officer of Jerabek's unit - Echo Company, Second Battalion.

"Character is finding yourself in an enemy ambush against impossible odds and immediately employing your weapon into enemy positions as Ryan did, so that your fellow Marines can get out from under a massive amount of enemy fire and have a chance to fight," Schickel told the 125 people at the home.

"Character is being shot to the ground as enemy bullets strike you in the shoulder and getting back up to fight as Ryan did, while most others would have stayed down," Schickel said.

"Character is continuing to give everything you have until that final moment. That's what Ryan did. That's why he has earned this award."

Rita Jerabek said she feels the loss of her son everyday, but takes solace in the award from the Marine Corps that her son loved so much.

"It signifies the respect he has gotten from his peers and those he served with," she said.


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Information from: Green Bay Press-Gazette, http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com

Ellie

[KingDonkeyPunch]

Now why isn't this mother storming DC, and bringing every terrorist group to rallly with her? Because she knew that her son sacrificed his life heroicly for a country and corps that he loved. Crusty Cindy needs to take a hard look at mothers like this, and maybe she will realize how asinine she is really making herself out to be.