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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJUENE N.C. (MCN - 7/18/2011) — After
providing medical treatment for two Marines who were shot during a
firefight in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2010, Hospital
Corpsman 2nd Class Jacob Emmott, a corpsman with 1st Battalion, 2nd
Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, was shot in the head.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Jacob Emmott, a corpsman with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, is presented his Silver Star award citation by Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, the vice chief of naval operations at the Third Annual Naval Safe Harbor Award Ceremony in Washington D.C., July 14, 2011. Emmott was awarded the Silver Star, the third highest award for valor in the United States armed forces, for his actions in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, 2010., Lance Cpl. Walter D. Marino II |
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Miraculously, Emmott survived the injury and was awarded the Silver
Star for his heroic actions. The award is presented for gallantry in
action against an enemy of the United States and is the third
highest award for valor in the United States armed forces.
“I'm not upset about (the injury) at all,” said Emmott. “We had
gotten into a bunch of firefights that day, and it seemed like we
were winning. It was honestly a really good day – minus the fact
that I got shot in the head.”
On July 14, 2011, Emmott's
family and fellow service members traveled to the Third Annual Naval
Safe Harbor Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C., to witness Emmott
and other service members receive awards for various work and
actions involving the military.
“Jacob loves his Marines,”
said Emmott's mother. “We're very proud of the service he's done and
continues to make.”
When Emmott rose to make his way
to the front stage to receive the award, the audience roared in
applause. His fellow sailors, whom he deployed with, |
| could be heard over the crowd yelling for him with pride. |
“He's the guy you can count on, the guy you want on
patrol with you,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrew S.
Drummond, a corpsman with 1/2. “When we first got to our
area of operation, we were going on patrols two to three
times a day and he was on every patrol. He never complained.
He just did it.”
With a broad smile, Adm. Jonathan
W. Greenert, the vice
chief of naval operations, pinned the Silver Star to
Emmott's chest and handed him the award citation.
“You wonder what kind of person is this that we honor that
can do this kind of business,” said Greenert. “It takes you
back to an author, James Michener, who wrote a famous line
about heroes: ‘where do we get such people'?” said Greenert.
“We get them from everyday life in this country, and we have
a generation who are willing to stand up and say, ‘I'm going
to take care of this country.' It's very, very encouraging
to know we're going to be in good hands.”
By USMC Lance Cpl. Walter D. Marino II, 2nd Marine Division
Marine Corps News
Copyright 2011
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