Photo By Samantha Treadway | (left) Pfc. Cameron R. Hebert along with Sgt. 1st Class John C. Zanella, his...... read more read more
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CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq — "Nothing seemed different; it was just like any other time that we went out. I was scanning my area, up, down, side-to-side, just as I've been taught. We pulled in to the area and everything seemed as it had on so many other occasions, until," said a gunner from Berry, Ala., as he recalls the day he was hit with a Molotov cocktail and how it will forever remain burned in his memory. A devastating event, which resulted in him receiving the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received in combat.
Early that morning on Jan. 5, Pfc. Cameron R. Hebert and the Soldiers of Team 1, Brigade Maneuver Element, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 17th Fires Brigade, were assigned a mission to escort a civil affairs team to Timinyah in Basra, Iraq. Their mission was to talk to the people of the area about how they could help better their community.
"We escorted the team through the area and they conducted their assessment without any problems, but it was clear by the tension in the atmosphere that we were not welcomed," said Staff Sgt. Richard Chapel, convoy commander.
The team finished talking to those who were not scared to speak about the area and were escorted safely back to the vehicles for the return trip home. That's when things took a turn for the worse.
"There were kids that were throwing rocks at the convoy so I began scanning slowly in their direction to ensure the situation didn't escalate. The presence of the .50 cal. is pretty intimidating and they usually don't continue bothering us when it's turned in their direction," said Hebert referring to his .50 caliber M2 Browning machine gun.
While Hebert was keeping the miscreant stone bearers at bay, little did he know that behind him lurked an insurgeant determined to take his life.
As the convoy began rolling out, Sgt. 1st Class John C. Zanella, BME Noncommission Officer-in-charge; known throughout the brigade as simply Sergeant Z, was first to notice the attacker approaching to the rear left-hand side of the convoy.
"I saw a man who looked to be in his mid-twenties running towards us with a Molotov cocktail in his hand," Zanella said.
A Molotov cocktail, also known as a gasoline or petrol bomb, is composed of a glass bottle containing fuel usually with a source of ignition such as a burning cloth wick held in place by the bottle lid. Thickening agents such as tar, strips of tire tubing, sugar or other agents are added to the fuel to give it an adhesive affect ensuring extensive damage.
Upon impact, the contents of the cocktail spread and immediately ignite, turning a glass of liquid into a scorching death trap. It was this very device that put the life of the Hebert in imminent danger.
With the explosive in the attacker's hand and his arm drawn back ready for release, Sergeant Z fired from the moving vehicle. Determined to kill Americans, the man hurled the volatile cocktail and turned to a nearby alley. Sergeant Z fired two more shots and gave chase, keeping his eyes on the suspect all while radioing his position for his team members to follow.
The bottle landed squarely on the side of the turret that Hebert was manning and instantly the turret was engulfed in flames.
"I just remember it getting very hot. I glanced around and then saw the flames climbing up the side of my right arm," Hebert said.
In shock, Hebert calmly said, "I'm on fire." Realizing the seriousness of his state he franticly repeated, "I'm on fire, I'm on fire!"
Seeing the flames from a vehicle ahead, Staff Sgt. Joseph R. Dye, personal security officer, raced to the truck where the driver, Pfc. Brittany D. Gutierrez, released the combat-locked door giving Dye access to the fire extinguisher.
Realizing he was indeed in flames, Hebert fell into the vehicle through the gunner's hatch.
"I dropped down into the vehicle and I could feel the heat from flames climbing up my arm towards my neck," Hebert said. "That's when I saw Sergeant Dye with the fire extinguisher. He put out the flames and our medic, Specialist Frazier, immediately began treating my wounds," he added.
"When she finished, she asked me if I was OK and I told her, 'It hurts a little, but I'm good.' She asked, 'Are you sure?' I said, 'Yeah I'm good.' Then I got back in to the turret and started scanning my area again," Hebert said.
Moments later, Sergeant Z radioed back to the convoy that he and a few members of the team, along-side the Iraqi Army, had cornered the suspect into what he described as a mosque.
Members of the IA subsequently entered the mosque and brought several individuals matching the description of the attacker for Sergeant Z to positively identify, as U.S. Forces cannot enter Iraqi mosques.
Through the help of an interpreter Sergeant Z identified the man as the attacker, but the IA was hesitant to detain the individual as they did not witness the attack.
Sergeant Z then gave instructions to Cpl. Dustin J. Anderson, truck commander, to put the suspect in wrist restraints and turn him over to the custody of the IA.
After returning safely to the COB, the events of the day were reported and Hebert went to the medical center for further treatment of his injuries. After a medical examination cleared Hebert for duty, he was off on another mission a few hours later.
A couple of weeks later outside the HHB Lightening Battery HQ, an award ceremony was held in Hebert's honor. He proudly stood in front of a small formation when he was presented the Purple Heart medal by Col. Steven L. Bullimore, 17th Fires Brigade commander, for wounds received in action.
"I'm honored to receive this medal, but no one aspires to get a Purple Heart," Hebert said. "I have to thank Sergeant Z for what he did that day. That guy would have had a clear shot at me and things could have been much worse had Sergeant Z not re-acted so quickly," he added.
"I want to thank all the team for their support and let you know that I'm not scarred by what happed that day. We were doing a job and it's just something that happened," Hebert said.
This was the first Purple Heart medal awarded to a 17th FiB Soldier during this deployment.
The Purple Heart medal was first established by General George Washington at Newburgh, New York on August 7, 1782 and is awarded by the President of the United States of America and presented to military personal that have been wounded in action.
| Date Taken: | 02.05.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 02.05.2010 01:04 |
| Story ID: | 44949 |
| Location: | CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, IQ |
| Web Views: | 406 |
| Downloads: | 317 |
This work, Scorched but not scarred; a hero's valor honored, by SPC Maurice Galloway, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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