Cpl. John D. Carney, who served as a fire team leader with 1st squad, 3rd platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7 in Afghanistan, receives a Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device from Lt. Gen. John M. Paxton, commanding general, II Marine Expeditionary Force, during a ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Feb. 28,
2011.
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (MCN - 2/28/2011) – Three
Marines with Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine
Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, received Bronze Star
Medals with Combat Distinguishing Devices during a ceremony aboard
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 28.
Cpl. John D.
Carney, a fire team leader, Capt. Brandon J. Gorman, Echo Company
commander, and Sgt. Maj. William E. Heyob,
battalion sergeant major, all assigned to the BLT, received awards
from Lt. Gen. John M. Paxton, commanding general, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, for their heroic actions while deployed to
Afghanistan.
Carney received his award for several actions,
specifically for valor when his squad faced a Taliban ambush, Dec.
27, 2009.
Pinned down in an open area by multiple Taliban machinegun
positions, Carney lethally employed his M-203 grenade launcher, then
led his fire team to engage the enemy.
According to his
award citation, “He continued leading his fire team through 200
meters of open terrain to close with the enemy fighters, accounting
for two enemy killed and one enemy wounded.”
After receiving
his award, Carney modestly said he didn't “deserve the Bronze Star,”
but his leadership disagreed, saying his actions while deployed
certainly merited the prestigious medal.
Gorman, also
personally “humbled” by his award, attributed his success to the
courageous Marines of the battalion. He said the award was really
for them to share. Gorman received his award for several
achievements, specifically for actions, Nov. 24, 2009, while on
patrol with his rapid action force near Hajji Zahir Village,
Afghanistan.
During the patrol, Gorman and his Marines
received accurate and effective enemy machinegun fire.
According to his award citation, “While in the center of the
kill-zone, he attempted to identify enemy positions through his
optics when his weapon and helmet were struck by machinegun fire,
sending fragmentation into his face.”
Despite the incoming
rounds, Gorman assessed the situation, ordered a sniper team leader
to employ 40mm high explosive grenades, oriented the squad on the
enemy and ultimately disabled the enemy positions.
Finally,
Gorman “[disabled] the enemy with indirect fires and close air
support,” enabling the Marines to push forward clearing the enemy
positions. His actions resulted in multiple enemy casualties.
Heyob was commended for his duties as battalion sergeant major,
and specifically awarded for his actions, Jan. 12, 2010, in Garmsir
District, Afghanistan.
On this day, a violent riot erupted
in the district, threatening the district police station and
Governor's Compound. Heyob led a reinforcing effort, and inserted
two vehicles into a crowd of more than 300 rioters.
“Immediately, his vehicle came under heavy and effective small-arms
fire and a volley of hundreds of projectiles thrown by rioters,”
according to Heyob's award citation.
Despite the barrage of
projectiles, Heyob decided to deescalate the situation by backing
out of the area and holding his Marines' fire. The situation “could
have resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties.”
Heyob,
like Carney and Gorman, attributed his battalion's achievements to
the loyal dedication of the Marines and sailors in the “Warlord”
family.
The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are
currently in the midst of a pre-deployment training program, which
is a series of progressively complex exercise designed to train and
test the MEU's ability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine
Air Ground Task Force.
The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission
capable force comprised of Aviation Combat Element, Marine Tilt
Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat
Logistics Battalion 22; Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing
Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and the Command Element. |
Capt. Brandon J. Gorman, who served as Echo Company commander, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment in Afghanistan, stands at attention after he received a Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device from Lt. Gen. John M. Paxton, commanding general, II Marine Expeditionary Force, during a ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Feb. 28,
2011.
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Sgt. Maj. William E. Heyob, battalion sergeant
major for Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine
Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, receives a Bronze Star
Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device from Lt. Gen. John M.
Paxton, commanding general, II Marine Expeditionary Force, during a
ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Feb. 28, 2011. |
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Marine Expeditionary Units are the Marine Corps' smallest, permanent
Marine Air-Ground Task Force, commanded by a colonel and comprised
of approximately 2,200 service members ready to provide immediate
response capabilities in a hostile or crisis environment. While
deployed, each MEU also incorporates two KC-130 aircraft to support
the unit's operations abroad |
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