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CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (11/23/2011) -- Ten Marines and one sailor
were awarded medals during a Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine
Logistics Group, award ceremony here, Nov. 7.
Ten Marines and one sailor are awarded medals during an award ceremony aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 7,
2011. Three Bronze Stars, one Purple Heart, two Meritorious Service Medals, five Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and one Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal were awarded, respectively, to the service members.
Photo by USMC Pfc. Timothy Childers |
Three Bronze Stars, one Purple Heart, two Meritorious
Service Medals, five Navy and Marine Corps Commendation
Medals, and one Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal were
awarded, respectively, to the service members.
All
the awards were given for the troops' service in Afghanistan
during Operation Enduring Freedom. Many of the service
members disregarded their own safety to save lives of others
or accomplish the mission at hand.
"It's motivating
to see our young service members be recognized and have
their stories told," said Master Chief Gerard C. Chiu,
command master chief, 1st MLG. "Far too often we get
distracted in garrison from the things that matter, like
these gentlemen today. It was very energizing as they were
awarded, to say the least."
Gunnery Sgt. Quentin K.
Black, explosive ordnance disposal section leader, EOD
Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, CLR-1, 1st MLG, was
the first to be awarded the Bronze Star. According to his
citation, on Dec. 1, 2010, Black led his team during a
clearing operation in southern Marjah. Black, from Willard,
Missouri, and his team manually rendered safe multiple
improvised explosive devices while exposed to enemy machine
gun and small-arms fire, ultimately clearing a safe path for
the Marines of his patrol to close with and destroy the
enemy. Throughout the deployment, Black's outstanding
leadership resulted in his section accomplishing 545 combat
missions and rendering safe 141 IEDs. This prevented the
loss of countless lives in both coalition forces and the
civilian populace.
The second Marine to be awarded
the Bronze Star was Staff Sgt. Kelvin L. McDonald, EOD team
leader, 4th Platoon, EOD Company, 7th ESB, CLR-1, 1st MLG.
According to his citation, while in Afghanistan, McDonald
was embedded with a Quick Reaction Force in pursuit of an
individual that was seen emplacing IED components, Jan. 12,
2011. During the pursuit, the QRF encountered a high
concentration of IEDs along their route. Quickly and without
regard for his own safety, McDonald rendered safe nine IEDs
within five hours. His actions allowed the safe movement of
the QRF and saved the lives of Marines and Afghan soldiers.
McDonald was also awarded a Purple Heart for an injury
suffered on a previous deployment.
McDonald, from
Visalia, Calif., said he was just doing his job; any other
Marine in his position would have done the same. He said he
was glad the service members were being recognized for their
heroic actions in Afghanistan.
The one sailor awarded
was Petty Officer 3rd Class Richard M. Don, corpsman, EOD
Company, 7th ESB, CLR-1, 1st MLG. Don, from San Diego,
Calif., was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic actions that
took place Feb. 3, 2011. According to his citation, Don
responded to a suspected location of an IED. Upon arrival,
Don and an EOD team member began searching the area for
additional hazards when the team member stepped on and
detonated another IED. The explosion blew Don to the ground
and inflicted numerous secondary fragmentation injuries
along the entire right side of his body. Immediately, Don
began to render aid to the fallen Marine. Even as Don began
losing feeling in his right arm, he continued to aid the
Marine until another corpsman physically removed him from
the casualty. During the evacuation process, Don continued
to aid the team member, ultimately saving the life of the
Marine.
"It's a good day to be a white hat in a sea
of green," said Chiu in reference to Don being the only
sailor in the group of Marines. "Corpsmen bring an extra
level of confidence and care to the Marines. EOD Marines are
faced with much more danger and need to be confident in
themselves and their fellow Marines and sailors. The
corpsmen will train these Marines in combat life-saving
skills so they will have that confidence when it really
counts."
The following Marines were awarded
Meritorious Service Medals: Gunnery Sgt. Jeb P. Adle, from
North Platte, Neb.; and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joseph M.
David, from Downers Grove, Ill.
The following Marines
were awarded Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals:
Staff Sgt. Garrett E Cheatum, from Niceville, Fla.; Staff
Sgt. Andrew J. Barnes, from Portland, Oreg.; Staff Sgt.
Daniel L. McCarty, from Lompoc, Calif.; Sgt. Anthony W.
Delmont, from Franklin, N.J.; and Staff Sgt. Francis L.
Arnold, from Waterford, Ohio. The Navy and Marine Corps
Achievement Medal was awarded to Chief Warrant Officer 2
Shane A. Sehi, from Sigel, Ill.
More photos available in frame below
By USMC Pfc. Timothy Childers
1st Marine Logistics Group
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2011
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