Photo By Sgt. Walter D. Marino II | Staff Sgt. Jared V Genco, left, Sgt. Joshua M. Hileman, center, and Cpl. Trey D....... read more read more
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Six Marines from 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, stood at attention proudly as each of their award citations were read aloud at the Courthouse Bay Gym aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 4. Their command recognized them for their service during a recent deployment to Afghanistan.
In total, four Marines received Purple Hearts. The other two received a Bronze Star and a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat distinguishing device, respectively.
The Purple Heart recipients – Staff Sgt. Jared V. Genco, Sgt. Joshua M. Hileman, Cpl. Trey D. Devaun and Lance Cpl. Chris Geisler; served with the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal recipient – 1st Lt. Justin D. Davis as a part of the Regimental Combat Team 2 Quick Reaction Force, operating out of northern Helmand province, Afghanistan last year.
The Purple Heart recipients received their awards from two separate incidents in which their tactical vehicles struck IEDs during combat operations.
“Most people who don’t know too much about the military will know a lot about a Purple Heart,” said Genco. “It’s prestigious and it’s great to be recognized for the sacrifices these Marines made. Fortunately, we came out in relatively good shape.”
Davis, who served as the Purple Heart recipients’ platoon commander in Afghanistan, feels that their sacrifice is one example of the type of people they are.
“Those Marines who received the Purple Hearts are of the utmost, highest character,” said Davis. “They’re all some of my best Marines.”
Davis received his Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal with Combat “V” for heroic service as QRF platoon commander during a clearing mission in early April.
“We were clearing compounds when we got engaged from multiple firing positions, taking fire from all over the place,” he said. “We established where their firing points were and engaged with multiple TOW missiles, 60 millimeter mortars, 81 millimeter mortars and small-arms and medium machine-gun fire.”
Since their deployment to Afghanistan last year, the RCT-2 QRF platoon has been split up and its Marines assigned to different sections of 2nd AA Bn. Their reunion during the awards was a very special moment for the Marines.
| Date Taken: | 03.13.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.18.2011 10:32 |
| Story ID: | 67291 |
| Location: | JACKSONVILLE, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 711 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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