Schwab Marines honored for actions

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Cindy Fisher | A Marine with Combat Engineer Company, Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, pays respects before a battlefield cross following the memorial service for Sgt. Joseph A. Bovia at the Schwab theater April 29. Bovia, with Combat Engineer Company, was killed during combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Aug. 31, 2010.  

CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA, JAPAN

04.29.2011

Story by Gunnery Sgt. Cindy Fisher 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP SCHWAB, Japan - Combat Assault Battalion Marines reflected on the achievements and sacrifices of recent individual augmentees and small team deployments to Afghanistan during a morning awards ceremony and afternoon memorial service on Camp Schwab April 29.

Unlike most units here, the battalion, part of 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, does not typically deploy as whole. Instead, CAB Marines deploy piecemeal as individual augmentees or small detachments in support of I and II MEF operations in Afghanistan, said Lt. Col. Kirk Mullins, CAB’s commanding officer.

It is the only battalion of its type in the Marine Corps, said Sgt. Maj. Dwight A. Torres, the battalion’s sergeant major. The battalion includes light armored vehicles and amphibious assault vehicles, and has a compilation of military occupational specialties ranging from engineers to mechanics and even includes a tanker, an air officer and an infantry officer.

Though achievements and losses happen individually, the battalion recognizes them together, he said.

“It’s important to recognize these Marines in aggregate,” Mullins said, adding this was a way to reintegrate the battalion.

“To be recognized by their own division commanding general is very significant for them,” Mullins said of Maj. Gen. Mark A. Brilakis, 3rd MarDiv. commanding general, presenting the 13 awards.

At the awards ceremony, Maj. Marcus J. Reynolds received a Bronze Star for his actions during a March to December 2010 deployment to Helmand province, where he served as the officer-in-charge for Embedded Training Team, Afghan National Army, 2nd Brigade, 215 Corps, 1st MarDiv. (Forward), I MEF (Fwd.).

“He was the driving force that ensured the [1st and 2nd Kandaks, 2nd Brigade], partnered Marine units and his embedded team continued to excel, confronting constrained resources, limited combat asset availability and a determined enemy in the Marjah and Delaram districts,” according to his award citation.

Receiving the medal “shows that the Marine Corps saw that my team did a great job,” Reynolds said. “This was a team award, not an individual award.”

Brilakis also presented six Purple Hearts, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals with combat distinguishing device and four Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals with combat distinguishing device.

“This is the best part of what the Marine Corps is about,” Brilakis said of presenting the medals. “These Marines showed their courage, their fidelity and their resiliency.

“They’ve been tested in combat. They’ve shown their willingness to do very difficult jobs,” he said.

Receiving a Purple Heart and seeing the other medal presentations before the unit holds a deeper meaning, said Sgt. Joseph S. Fincher, who was wounded in action April 8, 2007, in Afghanistan.

“It’s a great demonstration to the junior Marines to see the diversity of CAB. It shows the battalion’s full force,” Fincher said.
He sees his Purple Heart as being representative of a greater community, he said.

“It’s about being proud you made it back and being representative of those who didn’t. You know that every time you wear it, you are representing those who didn’t make it home,” he said.

The day turned somber as CAB Marines gathered at the theater later that afternoon to remember one of their own who did not make it home – Sgt. Joseph A. Bovia, with Combat Engineer Company, CAB, killed during a skirmish against enemy forces in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Aug. 31.

“He was leading his Marines from the front on the most elevated and exposed observation post under construction,” said 1st Lt. Benjamin R. Nichols, a fellow Combat Engineer Company Marine, during the service.

Bovia, 24, from Kenner, La., was remembered by fellow Marines as “this big, burly sergeant who was gregarious with this big grin on his face,” said Mullins during the service.

“He was a … good [non-commissioned officer]. Everybody talked about the natural leadership he possessed,” Mullins said.

Many recounted tales of Bovia barking orders at his Marines, then making time to help those in need.

“At the drop of a hat, he could transform from jovial in nature to the most intense man you’ve ever meet in your life,” said Cpl. Ricky F. Suggs, with Combat Engineer Company, during the service.

“He was a Marine’s Marine,” Sgt. Seth B. Regeczi, with Combat Engineer Company, told those assembled.

“We lost one of the best Marine Corps NCOs on the day he died,” Nichols said.

“I try to emulate Sgt. Bovia’s leadership qualities in everything I do,” Suggs said.

Following the service, CAB Marines stopped one by one in front of the battlefield cross staged next to Bovia’s picture to say their final goodbyes.

Purple Heart recipients:

- Sgt. Jean C. Merced, wounded July 29, 2010, in Afghanistan
- Sgt. Joseph S. Fincher, wounded April 8, 2007, in Afghanistan
- Sgt. Lazaro Franco, wounded Aug. 15, 2010, in Afghanistan
- Cpl. Paul B. Price, wounded Aug. 15, 2010, in Afghanistan
- Lance Cpl. Andrew C. Brooks, wounded Sept. 24, 2010, in Afghanistan
- Lance Cpl. Efren Suaste, wounded Aug. 15, 2010, in Afghanistan

Awards with combat distinguishing device

- Staff Sgt. Guy A. Mamac Jr., Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal for service in Afghanistan from March to October 2010
- Sgt. Seth B. Regeczi, Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal for service in Afghanistan from July 3010 to January 2011
- Sgt. Brian A. Darosa, Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal for service in Afghanistan from March to October 2010
- Sgt. Kentrell L. McCoy, Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal for service in Afghanistan from August 2010 to January 2011
- Cpl. Ricky F. Sugg, Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal for service in Afghanistan from August 2010 to January 2011
- Seaman Christopher B. Sams, Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his actions Sept. 30, 2010, in Afghanistan.

• Date Taken: 04.29.2011
• Date Posted: 05.05.2011 21:02
• Story ID: 69936
• Location: CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA, JP