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.

[yellowwing]

Award Ceremony for Juston Lehew (http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a24_1181281945). Out in the desert with his Marines.

[ecfree]

A Marine Hero........:thumbup:

[Pete0331]

He was the greatest Marine I have ever served under.
The video above is of my company.

[davblay]

"With total disreguard for his own safety", now that says VOLUMES about that Marine! What he did deserves no less than the Congressional Medal Of Honor! It always gives me a feeling of being humble in the presents of such great Marines.

Semper Fi Gunny, and thank you for your courage and bravery!

Dave

[mvpstudios]

Like Sgt Grunt, I too have had the honor of meeting SgtMaj Lehew, I have worked with him for 2 year's now photographing the Marine Corps Balls for his Units. He is a very great man. You are absolutely right when you say he should have gotten the Medal of Honor, especially when you see the stories of recent winners. After Congress complained that they were only giving it to dead people they have started looking more closely at those who deserve the MOH. Today President Obama awarded SSgt Salvatore Giunta the MOH for his heroic actions in Afghanistan. I am 100% positive that he wouldn't have gotten the MOH in 2003 before Congress pressed for living service members to win the MOH. I am in no way taking away from Giunta's accomplishment, he is a true American hero. That said, SgtMaj (he has since been promoted) Lehew's actions by far exceed them in my opinion. See for yourself., here is Giunta's citation from today;

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:
Specialist Salvatore A. Giunta distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, on October 25, 2007. While conducting a patrol as team leader with Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, Specialist Giunta and his team were navigating through harsh terrain when they were ambushed by a well-armed and well-coordinated insurgent force. While under heavy enemy fire, Specialist Giunta immediately sprinted towards cover and engaged the enemy. Seeing that his squad leader had fallen and believing that he had been injured, Specialist Giunta exposed himself to withering enemy fire and raced towards his squad leader, helped him to cover, and administered medical aid. While administering first aid, enemy fire struck Specialist Giunta’s body armor and his secondary weapon. Without regard to the ongoing fire, Specialist Giunta engaged the enemy before prepping and throwing grenades, using the explosions for cover in order to conceal his position. Attempting to reach additional wounded fellow soldiers who were separated from the squad, Specialist Giunta and his team encountered a barrage of enemy fire that forced them to the ground. The team continued forward and upon reaching the wounded soldiers, Specialist Giunta realized that another soldier was still separated from the element. Specialist Giunta then advanced forward on his own initiative. As he crested the top of a hill, he observed two insurgents carrying away an American soldier. He immediately engaged the enemy, killing one and wounding the other. Upon reaching the wounded soldier, he began to provide medical aid, as his squad caught up and provided security. Specialist Giunta’s unwavering courage, selflessness, and decisive leadership while under extreme enemy fire were integral to his platoon’s ability to defeat an enemy ambush and recover a fellow American soldier from the enemy. Specialist Salvatore A. Giunta’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, and the United States Army.

And here is SgtMaj Lehew's;

For extraordinary heroism as Amphibious Assault Platoon Sergeant, Company A, c, Task Force Tarawa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Task_Force_Tarawa), I Marine Expeditionary Force in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_gun) to repel numerous waves of attackers. In the midst of the battle, an Amphibious Assault Vehicle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_the_Navy).[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_LeHew#cite_note-NC-0)

Additionally, we was awarded the Bronze Star not too long after for a separate mission.
I am going to look into the possibility of an award like this being upgraded to the MOH. The Navy Cross is amazing and I am sure Lehew is honored to wear it and he probably wouldn't even ask for it to be upgraded, but it should be so he can be added to the list of the very few who have done what it takes to save lives in combat.

[doc h fmf]

There Are Quit A Few Marines Who Won The Navy Cross That In My Opinion That Should Have Been Awarded The Moh. Besides The Sgtmaj, Ithink The 2 Lcpls Should Have Been Awarded The Moh.
I Apologize That I Couldnt Remeber Their Names, But I Think These Three Heros Are Worthy Of The Moh.

Semper Fi

Stephen Doc Hansen Hm3 Fmf