An Independece Day Honor - Marines awarded for heroism


Posted Thursday, July 03, 2008

NOTE: Joshua Ybarra is the son of Dana Nicholson. Many of you met her at THR during the activities with Operation Interdependence.

080701-M-1MLG-5999SHELATO-MEDAL
Photos by Staff Sgt. M. P. Shelato
1st MLG
Marines awarded for heroism
20080701

AT-TAQADDUM, Iraq – Two Marines were awarded Navy and Marine Corps Medals here July 1, for their heroic efforts during a building fire at Forward Operating Base al-Qaim in January, 2007.

According to the award citations, Sgt. Scott K. Piccoli and Cpl. Joshua S. Ybarra rushed to the aid of Marines struggling to get free of a burning building. Without hesitating, Piccoli, airframes mechanic, Marine Light Helicopter Attack Squadron 367, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, from Durango, Colo., ordered Ybarra to alert a Crash, Fire and Rescue unit, then charged into the smoke filled structure.

Ybarra, airframes mechanic, HMLA-367, 3rd MAW, from Pflugerville, Texas, ran more than half a mile to notify emergency responders of the fire, then raced back to assist Piccoli’s efforts to evacuate the living quarters.

While retrieving gear and personal belongings from the building, Piccoli attempted to retrieve a sleeping bag, and found a Marine sleeping in it. As ammunition and cases of aerosol cans began to ignite in the blaze, Piccoli evacuated the Marine from the structure, but was denied reentry to the building by the firefighters.

“It was the type of situation where any Marine would do what he was supposed to do,” Piccoli said.

The award citation was signed by Gen. James T. Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps, on behalf of the President of the United States.

“I never thought I’d get something like this,” Ybarra said. “We just happened to be at the right place at the right time.”

Ellie