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Hospital Corpsman Awarded Silver Star
(June 27, 2011) |
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 FORT
BRAGG, N.C. (NNS - 6/24/2011) -- A Navy hospital corpsman
was awarded the fourth highest military honor during a June
24 ceremony at U.S. Marine Corps Special Operations Command
(MARSOC) on board Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (FMF/DV/FPJ) Amilcar
Rodriguez was awarded the Silver Star for his actions on
Nov. 6, 2009, while serving as a combat advisor and corpsman
with Marine Special Operations Company F, 2nd Marine Special
Operations Battalion, Marine Special Operations Regiment,
Special Operations Command. His unit was supporting
Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan at the time.
Rodriguez, an Avon, Conn., native originally from
Caguas, Puerto Rico, is a trauma instructor at the Naval
Special Operation Medical Institute (NSOMI), the Navy
detachment within the Army Joint Special Operations Medical
Training Center (JSOMTC) at Fort Bragg. He accepted the
award in front of family and friends, crediting his actions
during the four-hour gunfight to his training and experience
gained during multiple missions, emphasizing the team work
and camaraderie of his Company F teammates.
"This is
recognition of what my team and I went through and how we
reacted to the situation," said Rodriguez. "I had multiple
roles on the team, and during that encounter I was
prioritizing as well as being a corpsman for the team."
According to the citation, Rodriguez and an Afghan
partner had established an overwatch position on a rooftop.
Shortly after, a U.S. Marine and two Afghan commandos
who were part of Rodriguez' team were wounded by an enemy
sniper. Rodriguez immediately returned fire into the enemy
position, killing two members of the opposing force, and,
despite imminent danger, moved to the wounded Marine's
position. While extracting the Marine, Rodriguez sustained
three gunshot wounds from another sniper.
Other
Marines pulled Rodriguez and the other wounded service
members from the roof, during which time Rodriguez calmly
directed the initial assessment and treatment of the
injuries he and the other service member had sustained.
Though seriously wounded, Rodriguez calmly instructed
another medic during the stabilization of other injured
personnel later in the engagement.
"Petty Officer
Rodriguez' heroic actions are in keeping with the proud
tradition of hospital corpsmen who deploy with Sailors and
Marines worldwide both in wartime and in peacetime," said
Navy Surgeon General Vice Adm. Adam M. Robinson, Jr. "The
bond that Corpsmen share with Marines is like none other -
it's sacred and unique. When our Marines deploy, they know
they will be well-cared for, from the battlefield to when
they return home. We will follow the Marines into heaven or
to the gates of hell."
The Silver Star is awarded for
gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States
while engaged in military operations with a friendly force. |
by Navy Medicine Support Command Public Affairs
Copyright 2011 | |
Reprinted from
Navy News Service
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