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CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Maj. Gen Glenn M. Walters, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general, and his wife Gail hosted a heroes dinner at his residence aboard Cherry Point Jan. 30 for those who played instrumental roles in support of the Marines and Sailors of 2nd MAW and who demonstrated acts of heroism in 2012.
“This is the first time I’ve hosted a dinner like this for so many heroic Marines and Sailors,” said Gail Walters. “It is incredible what they have done. Some of them have actually saved lives, and to me that is amazing.”
Nine Marines, Sailors and civilians joined Walters and other 2nd MAW leadership during the dinner prepared by celebrity chef Rick Tarantino and four chefs from the Cherry Point mess hall.
“It is an honor to be able to support the young men and women of our armed forces,” said Tarantino. “I am thankful for the opportunity to do this for them.”
All the food and drinks were donated by a local community business.
“It is an honor to be a part of something like this,” said Bob Savage, one of the people who has helped coordinate the dinner since the first dinner two years ago. “I have never been more proud to be an American than I am today.”
Before the dinner kicked off, all in attendance gathered at the table as the general introduced the honorees and told the guests why each one were there.
Cpl. Quinn J. Tobias, an intelligence specialist with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2 at Cherry Point, saw a young boy struggling to stay above water while swimming approximately 200 yards from the coast of Atlantic Beach, N.C.
He reacted without hesitation, swimming over to the boy and
ducking under the waves crashing over his head. Tobias, a native of Salem, Ore., grabbed the boy and used every ounce of energy in his body to hold his head out of water until lifeguards arrived nearly two minutes later.
Cpl. William Jones, a logistics and embarkation specialist with Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 28 at Cherry Point, and his wife Meredith drove to New Jersey to help with the Hurricane Sandy relief and subsequent clean-up efforts.
With his own money, Jones, a native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., rented a truck and transported donated goods from Havelock to the devastated
areas.
Sgt. Shane M. Moreland, a crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 at New River, demonstrated heroism and valor in defense of his aircraft and crew June 27 when flying into an area known to be under heavy enemy fire in order to insert an element of Company A, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion to a tactical landing zone.
With multiple rounds impacting the aircraft, Moreland, a native of Brownfield, Texas, suppressed the enemy with machine gun fire, preventing further damage to the aircraft. On departure from the zone, after assessing significant battle damage to critical flight control and fuel systems, he turned his attention to stabilizing an Afghan soldier who had been shot in the leg.
Sgt. Brandon S. Miller, an aircraft electrical systems technician with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 2, arrived on the scene of a vehicle submerged in Slocum Creek Oct. 18, and dove into the cold water to attempt to rescue the driver.
Miller, a native of Killeen, Texas, continuously attempted to dive down to the driver’s rescue for 30 to 45 minutes until the rescue dive team from Morehead City arrived.
Cpl. Madison G. DeLoach, a helicopter crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 at New River, responded to a downed AH-1 Cobra which crashed on Forward Observation Base Wolf pack, Afghanistan. DeLoach, a native of Jones. Miss., saved the lives of the pilot and co-pilot when he and a fellow Marine pulled them out of the burning aircraft and immediately provided first aid.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Jamal Pena, a corpsman with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 at Cherry Point, deployed as the corpsman for a police advisory team, from January 2012 to November.
His medical treatment and humanitarian outreach to three local Afghan children enabled proper care for a head, eye, and respiratory injury, dramatically improving their quality of life and improving the relationship between the Marines and the civilian populace.
During an IED attack, Pena, a native of Woodruff, S.C., displayed unwavering courage and tactical proficiency by treating five policemen and initiating the medical evacuation of the wounded.
Lance Cpl. Trevor Staples, an advanced maintenance technician with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 at Beaufort, instinctively went to the aid of an avionics Marine who suffered a seizure Dec. 20.
Staples, a native of Havre, Mont., immediately provided first aid and checked to ensure his fellow Marine was breathing while another Marine lifted his head and rolled the Marine onto his side to prevent choking as a third contacted emergency services.
Megan Morrow, a Marine spouse, and Jennifer Krivohlavy, a Single Marine Program coordinator, were both recognized for the instrumental roles within the community of Cherry Point. Both have supported military families and active duty military members through the SMP and the family readiness programs. The nine who were recognized came from different military installations, both in the states and overseas, different military occupational specialties, and were recognized for many different reasons.
“These Marines and Sailors were hand selected by their commands for their actions,” said Sgt. Maj. Christopher G. Robinson, 2nd MAW sergeant major. “It’s all about giving back to the Marines. That is what this dinner is for, to honor them for their actions, and they have earned it.”
| Date Taken: | 02.07.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 02.07.2013 13:06 |
| Story ID: | 101623 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 220 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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