MND-B PAO
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - Gen. Richard A. Cody, the U.S. Army's 31st Vice Chief of Staff, visited here Monday to honor Multi-National Division " Baghdad Soldiers serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
He presented the Bronze Star for Valor to Sgt. Jeremy McDonald, who is assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, during an awards ceremony at the Ironhorse Conference Center.
McDonald was presented the medal for his actions Jan. 15 when he was wounded by terrorists after identifying a suspicious vehicle while on dismounted patrol.
Serving as the squad leader, and placing himself as the lead element, he attempted to stop the vehicle for inspection. The vehicle's occupants commenced an unprovoked attack. McDonald was wounded but continued to return fire. The Soldier was struck by point-blank range AK-47 fire five times. His Soldiers, inspired by his fearlessness, entered the fray and defended their leader, who continued to fire at the terrorists even as his Soldiers pulled him away from the vehicle. McDonald continued to secure the area with his Soldiers until he was forced to evacuate 45 minutes later.
Cody presented Combat Action Badges to 25 Soldiers for their actions taken when a roadside bomb struck their convoy. They ranged in rank from private to major. Among the recipients were members of the assistant division commander for maneuver's personal security detachment, who are assigned to Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division,.
The Soldiers presented the CAB were:
- Maj. Kevin Lewis,
- Capt. Matthew Fontana,
- Sgt. Maj. Terry Grezlik,
- Sgt. David Baker,
- Sgt. Thomas Brown,
- Sgt. Michael Duffey,
- Sgt. Jonathan Johnson,
- Sgt. Taurean Mathis,
- Sgt. Alvaro Rauzo-Garcia,
- Sgt. Juan Rivera,
- Sgt. Jeremy Smith,
- Sgt. Gregory Thomson,
- Sgt. Michelle White,
- Spc. Corey Cummings,
- Spc. Alexander Faiivae,
- Spc. Jennifer Lacer,
- Spc. Jessica Masser,
- Spc. Termaine Portis,
- Spc. Brandon Westenburg,
- Spc. Joshua Twiss,
- Spc. Brandon Westenberg,
- Pfc.Neil Cothan,
- Pfc. John Lange,
- Pfc. Matthew McCann,
- Pfc. Michael Pittenger, and
- Pvt. Joshua Nearhoof.
Following the award ceremony, Cody administered the Oath of Enlistment to 14 reenlisting Soldiers. He took advantage of the ceremony to joke with the Soldiers, telling them, "You know if a four-Star reenlists you, it's for six years."
"All this talk about whether our Army is struggling or not," he remarked, "you just have to take a look around here. Anybody concerned about our Army? I'm not. I'm ready to join the outfit again (and) stay another 10 years."
Following the presentations, Cody took advantage of an opportunity to view humvees that had been equipped with a special glass enclosure around the turret to protect the gunner from shrapnel and small-arms fire.
He chatted with a couple of the gunners and gleaned their opinions on the additions to their humvees, Afterward, he decided to have a first-hand look and got up in a turret to inspect it and ask further questions.
He then gave his personalized general's coins to the Soldiers manning the humvees. Cody also presented his coins to the Soldiers receiving recognition for their accomplishments and those who reenlisted.
