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Fallen N.J. Marine Welcomed Home
(January 28, 2010) |
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People line the street to honor a local Marine killed in Afghanistan, Jan. 21. The body of Sgt. Christopher R. Hrbek, 25, a Westwood, N.J., native, was escorted from Dover Air Force Base, Del., past streets lined with people waving American Flags to Beckers Funeral Home. Hrbek, a field artillery cannoneer with 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, II Marine Expeditionary Force, died Jan. 14 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The Bronze Star Medal with combat distinguishing device is scheduled to be presented to his family at his funeral, Jan. 23. The medal was approved for saving the life of his battalion sergeant major after an improvised explosive device severed both his legs during a firefight, Dec. 23, 2009. |
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WESTWOOD, N.J. (1/22/210) — The remains of a local Marine
killed in Afghanistan and selected to receive a Bronze Star Medal with combat
distinguishing device was escorted past flag-waving crowds to Becker Funeral
Home, Jan. 21.
Sgt. Christopher R. Hrbek, 25, a field artillery cannoneer with 3rd Battalion,
10th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, II Marine Expeditionary Force,
died Jan. 14 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province,
Afghanistan.
A detail of Marines who served with Hrbek marched in the front of the
procession.
Sgt. Ryan Harshman, 3/10, section leader, enlisted into the Marine Corps a few
months after Hrbek. They were assigned to the same unit and quickly became close
friends as they advanced from the newest Marines in the unit to experienced
leaders with multiple deployments.
He described Hrbek as a phenomenal leader. "When he walked into a room everyone
knew who he was, he just had this presence. He never ran out of fuel," said the
Smithsburg, Md., native.
A month before he died, Hrbek displayed those very qualities. On Dec. 23, 2009,
Hrbek's patrol was attacked from multiple directions. During the firefight, an
improvised explosive device erupted underneath Sergeant Major Raymond Mackey,
3/10, sergeant major. The blast instantly amputated both of Mackey's legs.
Without hesitation, Hrbek rushed through enemy fire and applied multiple
tourniquets and pressure dressings, thereby saving Mackey's life.
A Bronze Star Medal with a combat distinguishing
device was approved for Hrbek and is scheduled
to be presented at his funeral Jan. 23. In
recounting the details of the day's events, the
award states, "by his zealous initiative,
courageous actions, and exceptional dedication
to duty, Sergeant Hrbek reflected great credit
upon himself and were |
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in keeping with the highest
traditions of the Marine Corps and Untied States
Naval Service." |
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Harshman and the other Marines drove first to Dover and then here to Hrbek's
hometown from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. His emotions cracked through
any attempt to portray a stoic Marine while in uniform. He paused for a moment
while talking about his friend and pointed to another measure of the Marine he
affectionately called his "little buddy." The hundreds of townspeople who had
lined the streets during the procession now gathered at the funeral home, and
beyond them American Flags hung from houses, street lights and parking meters.
"This shows absolutely who he was," he said.
Sean Toale, a childhood friend of Hrbek, said "he always stood for something."
There will be a public wake Jan. 22 at Zion Lutheran Church, here, from 2 p.m.
to 4 p.m. He will be interned at George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus, N.J.,
Jan. 23.
According to II Marine Expeditionary Unit's press release, Hrbek was on his 4th
deployment since joining the Marine Corps in 2003. He deployed with the 26th
Marine Expeditionary Unit to Central Command theater of operations in 2005, then
twice to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from February to September
2007 and again from August 2008 to March 2009.
He deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in November
2009.
His personal decorations include two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals,
the Combat Action Ribbon and Good Conduct Medal. | |
Article and photos by USMC Sgt. Randall A. Clinton
New York City Marines Public Affairs
Copyright 2010
Reprinted from
Marine Corps News
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