Medal for Valor

Photo By Cpl. D. J. Wu | Lance Cpl. Collin Goldsmith, rifleman, Company I, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with a combat distinguishing device Aug. 3, 2012, during a ceremony at the Combat Center’s Sunset Cinema.  

TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, UNITED STATES

08.10.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. D. J. Wu 

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Lance Cpl. Collin Goldsmith, rifleman, Company I, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with a combat distinguishing device Aug. 3, 2012, during a ceremony at the Combat Center’s Sunset Cinema.

Goldsmith earned the award for his actions on June 17, 2011, during the battalion’s latest deployment.

Goldsmith was a point-man on a dismounted patrol near the village of South Gavmishi in the Upper Gereshk Valley of Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

On their way to detain a Taliban facilitator, Goldsmith led the way though the village while sweeping for improvised explosive devices. The patrol ran into insurgent activity in an alleyway near the center of the village. An insurgent threw a fragmentation grenade over the wall into the group’s path.

“The grenade landed just two meters from the Marines,” according to the summary of action listed in the award citation. “Quickly recognizing the threat, Lance Cpl. Goldsmith immediately alerted the rest of the patrol to the danger. Then, without regard for his own safety, he tackled the other Marine exposed to the imminent blast.”

“His actions in combat really speaks for his character,” said Lt. Col. Jeffery Kenney, battalion commander, 3/4. “It was his instinct to put himself in a position to sacrifice his own safety for somebody else’s.”

Goldsmith is known among his peers and leadership as a very humble and stellar Marine.

The one aspect of everything that meant the most to Goldsmith had nothing to do with the medal itself. It was his father flying out from York, Pa., to bear witness to the ceremony.

“It was just another day when I found out I was getting the award,” said Goldsmith. “I was just happy to see my dad out here. It’s always nice to have family support.”

Because of Goldsmith’s heroic actions, no one sustained serious injuries. Goldsmith was knocked unconscious briefly and returned to full duty one week later.

“There are probably dozens of stories like this one that don’t get captured, but fortunately this one did,” Kenney said.

• Date Taken: 08.10.2012
• Date Posted: 08.10.2012 23:28
• Story ID: 93024
• Location: TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, US