Las Cruces Marine receives Navy Cross

[thedrifter]

Las Cruces Marine receives Navy Cross
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story Identification Number: 200453192332
Story by Cpl. Luis R. Agostini



MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(May 3, 2004) -- Marine Sgt. Manuel A. Martinez received the Navy Cross from the Secretary of the Navy, Honorable Gordon R. England, during a ceremony Monday at 5th Marine Regiment parade deck here.

"These brave Marines did good things without notice," said England, "and without the acclaim of crowds. But they got the acclaim of their fellow Marines."
Martinez, 22, a Las Cruces, N.M., native, received the naval service's second highest award for extraordinary heroism while serving as first fire team leader for 2nd squad, 1st Platoon, Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom April 12, 2003. The Medal of Honor is the highest military award.

A corporal at the time, Martinez responded to a call to reinforce 1st Platoon, which was under attack by enemy forces. Under fire, Martinez deployed his team in supporting positions for a squad assault.

He assumed control after his squad leader was wounded. While other Marines tended to the wounded squad leader, Martinez single-handedly assaulted the building and killed four enemy soldiers with a grenade and his rifle.

"All of the training is what helped me out," said Martinez. "I relied on my training."

In effect since April 1917, and established by an Act of Congress on Feb. 4, 1919, the Navy Cross may be awarded to any person who, while serving with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguishes himself/herself in action by extraordinary heroism not justifying an award of the Medal of Honor.
The action must take place under one of three circumstances: while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or, while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict in which the United States is not a belligerent party. To earn a Navy Cross the act to be commended must be performed in the presence of great danger or at great personal risk and must be performed in such a manner as to render the individual highly conspicuous among others of equal grade, rate, experience, or position of responsibility.
More than 6,000 Navy Crosses have been awarded since World War I.



Las Cruces, N.M., native, Marine Corps Sgt. Manuel A. Martinez (Left), 22, received the Navy Cross May 3, 2004. He received the medal from The Secretary of the Navy, Honorable Gordon England, during an awards ceremony held on Camp Pendleton. Martinez is currently assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, out of Camp Pendleton. He was the first fire team leader for 2nd squad, 1st Platoon, Golf Company, 2/5. Photo by: Cpl. Jeremy M. Vought

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn20...C?opendocument


Ellie

[thedrifter]

Ossian Marine posthumously receives Silver Star
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story Identification Number: 200453192130
Story by Cpl. Luis R. Agostini



MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(May 3, 2004) -- Lori Bohr, wife of Marine Gunnery Sgt. Jeffrey E. Bohr, Jr., who was killed in action April 10, 2003, accepted the Silver Star on behalf of her husband from the Secretary of the Navy, Honorable Gordon R. England, during a ceremony Monday at 5th Marine Regiment parade deck here.

"These brave Marines did good things without notice," said England, "and without the acclaim of crowds. But they got the acclaim of their fellow Marines."

Bohr, an Ossian, Iowa, native, received the military's third-highest award for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as the Alpha Company gunnery sergeant, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom on April 10, 2003.

With his company assigned the dangerous mission of seizing a presidential palace in Baghdad and concerned that logistical resupply might be slow in reaching his comrades once they reached the objective, Bohr selflessly volunteered to move in his two soft-skinned vehicles with the company's main armored convoy.

While moving through narrow streets toward the objective, the convoy took intense small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Throughout this movement, Bohr delivered accurate, effective fires on the enemy while encouraging his Marines and supplying critical information to his company commander.

When the lead vehicles of the convoy reached the dead end and were subjected to enemy fire, Bohr continued to boldly engage the enemy while calmly maneuvering his Marines to safety. Upon learning of a wounded Marine in a forward vehicle, Bohr immediately coordinated medical treatment and evacuation.

Moving to the position of the injured Marine, Bohr continued to lay down a high volume of suppressive fire, while simultaneously guiding the medical evacuation vehicle, until he was mortally wounded by enemy fire.

"I've supported everything he and the Marine Corps does," said Lori Bohr. "This means a lot."

Established in 1918, the Silver Star is awarded to a person who is cited for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The required gallantry, while of a lesser degree than that required for award of the Distinguished Service Cross, must nevertheless have been performed with marked distinction.



Ossian, Iowa native, Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Jeffrey E. Bohr Jr., 39, has posthumously received the Silver Star May 3, 2004. His wife, Lori, accepted the medal on her husband's behalf from secretary of the Navy, Honorable Gordon England during an award ceremony held on Camp Pendleton. Bohr died in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in northern Baghdad April 10, 2003. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment out of Camp Pendleton. He was the Alpha Company gunnery sergeant for 1/5. Photo by: Cpl. Luis R. Agostini

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn20...5?opendocument


Ellie

[thedrifter]

Aliso Viejo Marine receives Silver Star
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story Identification Number: 200453192759
Story by Cpl. Luis R. Agostini



MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(May 3, 2004) -- Marine Staff Sgt. Adam R. Sikes received the Silver Star from the Secretary of the Navy, Honorable Gordon R. England, during a ceremony Monday at 5th Marine Regiment parade deck here.

"These brave Marines did good things without notice," said England, "and without the acclaim of crowds. But they got the acclaim of their fellow Marines."

Sikes, 27, an Aliso Viejo, Calif., native, received the military's third-highest award for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as the platoon sergeant for 1st Platoon, Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom on April 12, 2003.

During the At Tarmiyah Battle, located 30 kilometers north of Baghdad, Sike's platoon was pinned down by heavy small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire in the opening moments of the fight.

Sikes quickly rallied two of his squads and set them into position to suppress the enemy and prepare them to counterattack. With the squads already in position, Sikes charged across 70 meters of fire-swept ground alone to close in on the first enemy strongpoint, which he cleared with a grenade and his rifle.

Moving to the roof of a three-story building exposed to enemy fire, Sikes adjusted 60-millimeter mortar rounds onto nearby enemy reinforcement positions. The rounds isolated the town from enemy reinforcement and decimated an enemy position in the nearby tree line.
After learning that his other squad had taken casualties, he signaled an assault amphibious vehicle and directed their evacuation while under a hail of small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire.
"It was a very intense moment," said Sikes. "You don't consider what's going on in the world when everything explodes around you. You want to take care of the Marines to the left and right of you."

Established in 1918, the Silver Star is awarded to a person who is cited for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The required gallantry, while of a lesser degree than that required for award of the Distinguished Service Cross, must nevertheless have been performed with marked distinction.



Aliso Viejo, Calif., native, Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Adam R. Sikes, 27, received the Silver Star May 3, 2004. Sikes received the medal from the Secretary of the Navy, Honorable Gordon England, during an awards ceremony held on Camp Pendleton. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment out of Camp Pendleton. He was the platoon sergeant for 1st Platoon, Golf Company, 2/5.
Photo by: Cpl. Luis R. Agostini

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn20...7?opendocument


Ellie