|
 BREMERTON,
Wash. (NNS) -- Running 300
meters, just under the length of
a flight deck, is one thing.
Legging that distance out across
improvised explosive device
(IED) laden ground as a target
for small arms fire to save the
life of a severely wounded
soldier is quite another.
That's exactly what a hospital
corpsman on deployment to
Afghanistan did July 19, 2011.
Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class
Michael Marchante, currently
assigned to Naval Hospital
Bremerton, was involved in
combat operations searching for
enemy locations when a soldier
from the Republic of Georgia
stepped on an IED in a wadi (dry
streambed) in southern Helmand
Province. Marchante immediately
ran to save the life of the
badly wounded platoon commander.
He promptly applied tourniquets
and pressure dressings to
staunch the rapid blood loss
while coming under heavy enemy
gun fire. With the bullets
flying all around, he shielded
the casualty with his own body
and continued to provide
life-saving medical care.
For his actions on that day,
Marchante was recognized with
the Bronze Star medal with
Combat Distinguishing Device at
an award ceremony at NHB Oct.
25.
"It was just something that came
naturally. As soon as I heard
the blast, my training kicked in
and I ran to provide medical
care. I was the only corpsman
there, and that's what we do,"
said Marchante, understating the
surrounding dangers of his
involvement.
"What he did doesn't surprise me
at all. He's a very humble,
hard-working and reliable
corpsman," commented Chief
Hospital Corpsman Philip
Nacionales, director for Nursing
Services, leading chief petty
officer.
The day began with Marchante, a
Murrieta, Calif. native, part of
a mounted Marine patrol from
Patrol Base Didgori that linked
up with the other coalition
forces to participate searching
a specific area that was known
to provide the enemy with firing
positions. After Marchante's
group established a western
vantage point in the area in
question, they soon came under
sustained small arms fire.
Meanwhile, elements of the 33rd
Georgian Light Infantry
Battalion were actively sweeping
for reported IEDs in the area.
The soldiers were moving back to
their vehicles when the scout
platoon commander stepped on a
pressure-plate IED. The
subsequent blast hurled him into
the air, amputated his right
leg, and peppered his other
lower extremities with shrapnel.
Marchante immediately grabbed
his medical kit bag and followed
his team leader and two Marine
explosive ordnance disposal (EOD)
technicians as they quickly
swept a safe path through the
threat of secondary and tertiary
IEDs to the wounded soldier.
Once Marchante reached the
severely wounded Georgian, he
immediately came under small
arms and heavy machine gun fire.
Witnesses note that the volume
of fire was heavy for the first
two to three minutes with rounds
landing within inches of
Marchante as he focused his
complete attention on saving the
life of the soldier in front of
him. Without regard for his own
safety, Marchante instinctively
used his body to shield the
casualty. While initially
positioned at the foot of the
casualty, he then pivoted,
exposing his back to enemy fire
while he knelt over the casualty
to continue to provide
protection as he rendered the
needed critical care. As the
enemy fire continued, other
coalition personnel went prone
to avoid it, but Marchante
remained in his kneeling
position to continue to provide
vital emergency care.
He applied tourniquets to both
legs and several pressure
dressings to stop the heavy
blood loss. After the Marines
positioned a Mine-Resistant,
Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle
to shield the casualty and
Marchante, that ended the
incoming gunfire threat. By that
time, the bleeding had stopped
and Marchante assisted in
loading the casualty into the
vehicle which was then used to
transport to a hastily-setup
helicopter landing zone.
Marchante continued to provide
medical aid in the MRAP and up
to the point the casualty was
handed off to the crew of the
Medical Evacuation helicopter.
Throughout Marchante's
deployment, his medical
assistance was officially
documented to be directly
responsible for preserving the
lives of 14 Georgian soldiers.
The summary of action on his
award for the Bronze Star
asserts that 'his courage under
fire, his care for his fellow
man, and his proficiency as a
corpsman were inspiring to
witness. For the impact he made
on the 33rd Georgian Light
Infantry Battalion and his
heroic actions on July 19 in
which he prioritized the care of
a wounded coalition partner
above his own personal safety,'
he was recommended for the
Bronze star with Combat
Distinguishing Device.
"The Marines I deployed with,
Army medics and other corpsman
in Afghanistan and
elsewhere...this is what we do.
I didn't think I did anything
special, except my job. When I
transferred from Camp Pendleton
to here, I was told about being
put in for an award, but I
didn't think much about it. It's
very humbling and overwhelming.
I wear this medal for all the
corpsmen," Marchante said, at
the time attached to Supporting
Arms Liaison Team Delta, 1st Air
Naval Gunfire Liaison Company,
Headquarters Group (Forward), 11
Marine Expeditionary Force
(Forward) from May 15, 2011 to
Dec. 4, 2011, with the mission
to provide support to a few
isolated patrol bases manned by
soldiers of the Republic of
Georgia.
"Marchante displayed courage in
the face of the enemy while
under fire, and his actions
undoubtedly saved the life of
the scout platoon commander that
day," stated U.S. Marine Corps
Capt. S.A. Stewart, team leader,
who witnesses the actions.
Staff Sgt. L.J. Mathews, team
leader for the Marine EOD
response unit, noted that
Marchante consistently exposed
himself to enemy fire in order
to provide medical assistance to
the casualty.
"His decisive actions saved the
life the Georgian scout platoon
commander and are deserving of
recognition for valor," affirmed
Mathews.
Overall during that time,
Marchante conducted over 100
combat patrols and 50 convoys in
support of the 33rd and 31st
Georgian Light Infantry
Battalion. He established
himself as the most
knowledgeable medical provider
for more than 400 Marines,
Georgian soldiers, Afghan
National Army soldiers and
Afghan interpreters.
Along with being continually
sought out to provide medical
care ranging from scorpion
stings to gastrointestinal
concerns, Marchante also
mentored and tutored the
Georgian medics. He also
rendered medical care to local
nationals, including treating
one child suffering from an open
fracture. Because of that care
and compassion, he helped
strengthen the relationship
between the Georgian soldiers
and the local residents,
considered one small victory in
the difficult counterinsurgency
fight.
As were his efforts on July 19,
2011.
By USMC Gloria Montgomery
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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