Silver Star - Heroes Call

Urban combat often devolves into a series of actions that traverse winding streets and narrow alleys--sometimes for hours. That was certainly the case for Sgt. 1st Class Stephens on June 24, 2004, in Baqubah. That morning, Stephens and his platoon were called in to assist another platoon taking heavy fire from insurgents. Stephens’s platoon helped the others fight through the engagement and then proceeded further into Baqubah. And then they ran into the first ambush of the day. His company commander was severely wounded, and elements of the company disengaged to evacuate him--leaving an even slimmer force. Undaunted, Stephens’s platoon fought through the ambush and continued the offensive as it wound through the city.

Then came a second ambush. In a barrage of fire from all directions, one of the Bradleys was disabled by an RPG round--leaving a wounded man trapped in the open. As enemies continued to pour down a heavy stream of fire, Stephens leapt from his vehicle and sprinted 50 meters in the open to reach the injured soldier. As rounds ricocheted off the metal, Stephens climbed into the open hatch to pull the soldier out of the wrecked vehicle. Medics crouched on the protected side of the vehicle, and Stephens lowered the injured man to them. He then ran back across the open space, dodging the enemies’ fire. Stephens rallied his men and pushed on through the city, repelling numerous attacks as they evacuated the wounded soldier. Despite an injury, Stephens led his men to the opposite side of the city to a nearby base, where they hoped to save their downed man. Unfortunately, his wounds were too grave. For his selfless act in retrieving a fellow soldier while under enemy fire, Stephens was awarded the Silver Star on Oct. 22, 2006.

ORIGINAL STORY AT CENTCOM HERE

Comments

[texasdillo]

You just got to love these Heroes. My prayers are with them all. BTW is any on using AOL and having trouble getting to the comment section of OMV?

[Big White Hat]

Grit. And a healthy amount of it.

[linda s.]

What a remarkably brave thing to do.

[Cheryl Ann]

Always sends chills down me to hear how brave these soldiers are. Just amazing!!!

[big bro jim i]

MAJOR P.
I SAW FIRST HAND OF SOME HEROIC ACTIONS FROM SOME OF MY MEN IN MY SQUAD.I TOLD THE C.O ABOUT IT TO NO AVAIL,AT LEAST A BRONZE STAR?IF NOT THE NAVY CROSS..SEE BACK THEN IT HAD TO BE WITNESSED BY AN OFFICER.... AM I RIGHT JON CURRY?...STILL GOT THOSE TOOTH PICKS WITH YOU WHEN YOU GO TO CAPITAL HILL?
THERE WAS A MARINE IN MY PLATOON, A THIN BUDDY HOLLEY LOOK ALIKE THAT WAS ALWAYS F&%#KED WITH. WELL GUESS WHAT FOLKS THAT WHIMPY NERD EARNED THE SILVER STAR.
I WILL ADMIT A LOT OF MEN CAME HOME WITHOUT THE MEDALS THEY EARNED AND I AM SURE IT IS GOING ON TODAY!!!

[Cheryl]

Remarkable story. Of course, he is an American soldier. Would one expect any less? They're heroes, each and every one.

[big bro jim i]

CHERYL,
THAT WAS NOT A STORY BUT THE TRUTH.NOT TRYING TO OFFEND YOU BUT HE WAS NOT A SOLDIER HE WAS A MARINE. PLEASE DO NOT CONSIDER MARINES AS SOLDIERS,WE ARE A FAMILY OF OUR OWN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR TROOPS.
TACO AND PAIN KNOW WHAT OUR FAMILY IS ABOUT.
SEMPER FI.
BIG BRO JIM I

[GunnNutt]

Big Bro, I think Cheryl was referring to SFC Stephens and not 'Buddy Holly'.

I'm glad the nerdy looking guy got the recognition he deserved!!! But don't Marines receive fewer medals anyway 'cause they're all heroes? :) In my book, anyway...

[BIG BRO JIM I]

GUNNNUTT, SORRY IF I MISUNDERSTOOD CHERYL.BUT YOU ARE RIGHT MARINES DON'T GET THE MEDALS THEY HAVE EARNED.MY SON IS IN THE AIR FORCE AND HE GETS A RIBBON EVERY TIME HE PASSES A TEST.
SEMPER FI.

[ProudMarineDad]

Big Bro Jim,

That's because its so amazing when the Air Force passes the test. ;-)

Just kiddin. But Cheryl is right - the Marines don't hand out Combat Action Ribbons to all who engage - there's simply too many and the paperwork would flood the system. My son saw several run-n-gun engagements, but no CAR.

But its not about the ribbons. Its about character.

Gotta love all these men and women who are simply so damn exceptional. I wonder sometimes if this nation deserves such sacrifice. Our "leadership" in Congress certainly doesn't.

Character runs deep. Politicians just run.

ProudMarineDad

[texasdillo]

I love the support for our troops. I think I may have lost a comment. If anyone finds it please pin it to my ass so I can find it.

[BIG BRO JIM I]

PROUD MARINE DAD,
YOU GOT A POINT THERE.TOO MUCH WORK FOR OUR OFFICE PINKIES, WOULDN'T GIVE THEM TIME TO JOIN US IN THE BUSH.NOTHING AGAINST OUR COMPANY CLERKS THEY WERE ASSIGNED THOSE JOBS ,THEY JOINED TO BE COMBAT MARINES, BUT SOME BODY HAS TO DO THE PAPER WORK. I MYSELF HAVE A FEW RIBBONS NOT ON MY DD214.BUT THATS THE WAY IT GOES.
LETS BE PROUD OF ALL OF OUR SERVICE MEMBERS. REMEMBER NO ONE PUT A GUN TO THEIR HEADS AND SAID JOIN NOW.THEY JOINED FOR SERVICE TO THEIR COUNTRY.MY KIND OF PEOPLE!!!

[texasdillo]

Hey PROUDMARINEDAD AND Big Jim. What is with the troops not getting medals that are deserved? I agree that our troops knew what they signed up for. I am prould of the all. All Marines are Infantry first. Pain made that clear to my Daughter when she signed up to be a Linguist in the Marines. She goes soon. My youngest is a Marine and has done a stint in Anbar. My oldest is going Army after a try at being a Marine. Knee problem.
The comments about paper pushers made me laugh. Was just funny. I was raised an Air Force brat in the 60s. My old man was in the Air Force and served in Korea and Nam. He told me a story about an Air Base being attacked by the commies(Chinese and North Koreans). He told me that everyone on the base had to take up arms to repel the attack. He told of taping 3 clips together to keep up constant fire. I remember him saying that the commies were stacked up like cordwood but the base was secured. I am not making a point just sharing a story.

[Douglas V. Gibbs]

Anyone willing to put their life at risk to protect our liberty is a hero in my book.

[BIG BRO JIM I]

TEXASDILLO,
I'M NOT PUTTING DOWN OUR OFFICE PINKIES,ONE OF OURS WAS K.I.A. NOT FILLING OUT FORMS, BUT OUT THERE WITH US IN THE BUSH.
I KNOW WE ALL HAD A JOB TO DO BUT BEING A GRUNT WAS TOP PRIORTY. COOKS,CLERKS,SUPPLY,MOTOR POOL,EVERYONE WAS A GRUNT FIRST AND PROUD OF IT.
PILOTS ARE TAUGHT HOW TO SURVIVE IN CASE THE ARE SHOT DOWN.SCOTT O'GRADY PROVED THAT,EATING BUGS AND HIDING FOR A WEEK IN THE BUSH.OUR PEOPLE ARE WELL TRAINED AT WHATEVER THEY DO.I DONT THINK I COULD KEEP UP WITH THEM.

[Karen I.]

Major,Thanks for telling us about Sgt.1st Class Stephens.He has my thanks for being an outstanding American.

[texasdillo]

Big Jim,
It is all about the grunts on the ground. Everyone else is support no matter how important the job. Every service member deserves our utmost respect. I know you were not putting anyone down. God bless all of you who have served and are serving. We thank you all. I was not versed in Marine lore until I had a Son serve. The traditions and commitment to each other is not something most civilians can grasp. This is a Marine website so I will speak of Marines. I heard a comment made by one Marine over the body of a lost comrade. He said "You are my brother, by a different mother. I love ya man". So I get it. I wish the ungrateful nation got it.

[Dixie]

I was voting over at Milblogging.com and love it.

I am a single proud mother of a future Marine. My son had made this decision on this on, with no outside help to join a group of very proud and elite men and women.

Hope you don't mind, but I am going to link you on my blog.

[BIG BRO JIM I]

DIXIE,
I SALUTE YOUR SON FOR JOINING THE ELITE,THE FEW,THE PROUD,THE MARINES.
TEXASDILLO,
I SUPPORT ALL OF OUR SERVICE MEMBERS BUT MARINES ARE A VERY TIGHT FAMILY.I KNEW MORE ABOUT MY MEN IN MY SQUAD THAN I KNEW ABOUT MY OWN BROTHER.
I REMEMBER BOOT CAMP WHEN I WROTE HOME TO TELL MY MOM HOW NICE THE MARINE CORPS WAS TO ME.I TOLD HER THEY GAVE ME MY OWN ROOM,BUT HAD TO SHARE IT WITH 39 OTHER GUYS.
GOT TO LOVE THE CORPS!!!!

[David M]

Trackbacked by The Thunder Run - Web Reconnaissance for 02/26/2007
A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention.

[abdullah]

.

Resistance bomb in Baghdad’s al-Karradah kills US troops Tuesday afternoon.

time Tuesday afternoon, reported that a short while earlier, an Iraqi Resistance car bomb that had been parked by the side of a road in Baghdad’s al-Karradah district exploded by a US column.

reported that the bomb went off opposite the leather works near al-Hurriyah Square , setting one US vehicle ablaze and killing those who were aboard it. The correspondent reported from the scene of the attack that the US forces tried to put out the fire in the vehicle and extract the bodies of their dead solsiers as local residents crowded around in nearby shops to watch the corpses of the Americans burn in their wrecked vehicle.

LEAVE THE IRAQ !!

SHIT AMERICAN MOTHERRUCKERS AND KILLERS !!!

WE WILL FUCK YOU MORE AND MORE !!!!

[abdullah]

BY THE WAY WHERE ARE YOUR FRIENDS WHO WANT TO WATCH ME OUT ???

FEAR ???

[BIG BRO JIM I]

HEY ABDULLAH,
MAYBE GO BACK TO PRE SCHOOL AND LEARN HOW TO SPELL,YOU DUMB ASS PIECE OF CAMEL HUMPING SHIT.
O.K ABDUSKAALAH GET BACK TO ME AND I WILL GO FACE TO FACE WITH YOU,BETTER YET GO BLOW YOURSELF UP AND GET YOUR 72 CLAP INFESTED VIRGINS

[abdullah]

Face to Face .....you can only with your great mouth !!I Know you...Where are your friends who want to take me out ????

FEAR????

[BIG BRO JIM I]

HEY AKNAD ,YOU COME VISIT ME, WARNING I'M WELL ARMED,BRING IT ON PUNK.

[Leyla]

AND TO " A FRIEND "

WE CATCH YOU !!!

WE GET YOU !!!

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