Marine awarded Silver Star for actions at Wanat
All of us are fans of tankerbabe so you’ve all read her excellent post about the SIlver Stars awarded to the members of Co. C 2/503rd 173rd Airborne Brigade for their actions at the tiny Vehicle Patrol Base at Wanat, Afghanistan on July 13, 2008.
This morning at Stars and Stripes, Cindy Fisher writes about Marine Corporal Jason Jones who was also at Wanat that morning and was also awarded the Silver Star for his actions there;
His medal citation recounts how he and another Marine dashed 35 meters through enemy fire to rescue a seriously wounded Afghan soldier.
Then they heard a call from U.S. soldiers that their observation post was about to be overrun.
“We had to do something,” Jones said.
He and a fellow Marine grabbed machine guns and ammunition and sprinted more than 100 yards through enemy fire to man the post and repel the attack.
I’m pretty sure those Taliban knuckleheads would have thought twice if they’d known it was a full platoon of US paratroopers AND three Marines they were attacking in that tiny patrol base. Honestly, I’m in awe of these guys – a handful of men beat back hundreds of fanatics. How can anyone not be awed?
Category: Support the troops
OOORAH Cpl Jason Jones!
I knew there were Marines out there – thought there were 4. But I hadn’t heard anything specific about their actions other than they were kicking butt and didn’t give one hoot about names. Depending on the story you read in the media about the attack the lowest estimate of enemy forces is 200. Goes as high as 400. No doubt all of the American Forces there that day kicked some ass!
Every time I hear someone say “there are no more heroes” I think of stories like this and remember things I’ve seen first hand in Iraq and know that there could be nothing further from the truth.
It is a crying shame that more people don’t know what Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen do for them on a daily basis around the world.