Something Different #6

Another Marine in Iraq- The point man- the most dangerous position in combat!

The President of the United States

Takes Pleasure in Presenting

The Navy Cross

To
Joseph B. Perez

Lance Corporal, United States Marine Corps
For Services as Set Forth in the Following

Citation:For extraordinary heroism as Rifleman, Company I, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 4 April 2003. While clearing near Route 6 during the advance into Baghdad, 1st Platoon came under intense enemy fire. As the point man for the lead squad and the most exposed member of the platoon, Lance Corporal Perez came under the majority of these fires. Without hesitation, he continuously employed his M16A4 rifle to destroy the enemy while calmly directing accurate fires for his squad. He led the charge down a trench destroying the enemy and while closing and under tremendous enemy fire, threw a grenade into a trench that the enemy was occupying. While under a heavy volume of fire. Lance Corporal Perez fired an AT-4 rocket into a machine gun bunker, completely destroying it and killing four enemy personnel. His actions enabled the squad to maneuver safely to the enemy position and seize it. In an effort to link up with 3d Platoon on his platoon’s left flank, Lance Corporal Perez continued to destroy enemy combatants with precision rifle fire. As he worked his way to the left, he was hit by enemy fire, sustaining gunshot wounds’ to his torso and shoulder. Despite being seriously injured, Lance Corporal Perez directed the squad to take cover and gave the squad accurate fire direction to the enemy that enabled the squad to reorganize and destroy the enemy. By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, and utmost devotion to duty, Lance Corporal Perez reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.


Courtesy of www.HomeOfHeroes.com

Comments

Something Different #6 — 4 Comments

  1. And never in their wildest dreams do these members of the military think they will ever be in a position that provides this recognition. They don’t think that way.

    Good one!

  2. Great point RT- the ‘heroes’ usually end up dead in the first 15 minutes. Everybody else just wants to come back at the end of the flight, patrol, or whatever.

    J.E (Bull) Williams was a good example. He was a Bosunsmate First Class who won both the Navy Cross and the CMOH in Nam. I knew him in SC, after we both retired. He NEVER thought he deserved either medal… He was, “just doin the job, and keepin the swabbies alive.” He later moved to Palm Coast and I don’t think his neighbors ever knew what he had done until he died and the obit was published. Hellva guy, unassuming as hell.