Staff Sgt. Maurice Scott, with Marine Corps Forces Special
Operations Command, received the Bronze Star for valor in combat
operations in Afghanistan as a joint terminal attack controller with
Marine Special Operations Command from Col. Steven J. Grass at Camp
Pendleton, Calif. on March 12, 2012. Photo by USMC Lance Cpl. Joshua Young |
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CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (3/13/2012) - A staff sergeant from Chicago,
received the military's fourth highest award for combat actions
between September and October, 2010.
Col. Steven J. Grass,
the commanding officer of Marine Special Operations Regiment,
presented Staff Sgt. Maurice Scott with 1st Marine Special
Operations Battalion, the Bronze Star with a “V” device, for valor,
at Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 12.
Scott, 33, successfully
employed supporting aircraft to break supply lines and hinder enemy
activity during a night helicopter raid as a joint terminal aircraft
controller, according to the award's citation.
Scott's
element's security position came under heavy fire from enemy forces
while deployed to the Helmand province, Afghanistan. He spotted and
eliminated an insurgent cave position by employing a missile strike
while observing from an exposed position. He engaged the enemy with
his weapon and called in multiple airstrikes. His actions caused |
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the enemy to break off their attack. |
“You can't attribute the success of the mission to one
individual,” Scott said. “Everyone is actively involved in
the process. It represents the achievements of our team.”
Scott, a former Army Ranger, has served three
deployments to Iraq and two to Afghanistan.
The
Bronze Star is awarded for either meritorious service or
combat heroism. The bronze “V” is a combat distinguishing
device for acts of combat heroism or valor.
“There
was excellent leadership at the team level,” Scott said.
“That's what allowed us to perform with accuracy.”
The Bronze Star recipient, whose father was an Army
lieutenant colonel, had a military upbringing and realized
his own military career when he was 18.
Scott
currently serves at Marine Special Operations Battalion,
Headquarters Company, learning Pashto and said he hopes to
continue working with government, such as state or federal
law enforcement, after his military career.
By USMC Lance Cpl. Joshua Young
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
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