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Marine's Heroic Actions Honored With Bronze Star
(July 4, 2011) | 
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (MCN - 6/29/2011) — The Bronze
Star, when awarded for bravery, is the fourth-highest personal award in
the U.S. Armed Forces, and only given to stand-out Marines who have
demonstrated outstanding courage under extreme circumstances. |
Brig. Gen. W. Lee Miller Jr., the acting commanding general for 2nd Marine Division presents the Bronze Star award citation to Gunnery Sgt. Chad L. Miller the radio chief for 5th Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 29, 2011.Miller was awarded the Bronze Star with combat distinguishing device for his heroic action in Kunar
Province, Afghanistan in 2009.
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Gunnery Sgt. Chad L. Miller, the radio chief with 5th Battalion,
10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, is one such Marine.
On June 29, 2011, Miller was awarded the Bronze Star with combat
distinguishing device for courageous actions in Afghanistan.
According to the award citation, in September 2009, Miller set
up an overwatch element for fellow Marines who were conducting a
meeting in Ganjgal village in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. When a
large group of insurgents attacked the Marines in the village,
Miller responded by coordinating lethal suppressive fires, giving
away his position to the enemy in the process. Despite receiving a
high volume of direct and indirect fire from prepared enemy
positions, Miller |
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spotted targets for his machine-gunner and grenadier, both from the
Afghan National Army, and also coordinated aerial fires by marking
targets. Miller manned the position for six hours until his fellow
Marines regained control. |
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“Your entire career leads you up to maybe a certain instance – one
moment that may happen,” said Miller. “The award was for actions that
happened out there, but I see it as everything I've done to lead up to
that day and just pushing myself.”
The award ceremony took place
in front of Miller's wife and kids and service members from his
battalion. When the ceremony began, the surrounding audience quieted as
Brig. Gen. W. Lee Miller Jr., the acting commanding general for 2nd
Marine Division, made his way to the center to present the award to
Gunnery Sgt. Miller and thank him for his actions.
After the
ceremony, Miller was swarmed by fellow Marines who personally thanked
and congratulated him.
“He's definitely a mentor for all the
Marines including staff noncommissioned officers,” said Staff Sgt. Chaz
G. McCaslin, the armory chief for the battalion. “He's someone you can
count on as a Marine and a friend. The award is definitely well
deserved.”
While modest about his own actions, Miller praised
his fellow Marines and said the award was for his team.
“The
mission and deployment that I was on – working with other branches just
shows how much more elite the Marine Corps is,” said Miller. | |
By USMC LCpl. Walter D. Marino II
2nd Marine Division
Copyright 2011
Reprinted from
Marine Corps News
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