Wrecker operator wins Marine of the Year

Photo By Cpl. Kenneth Jasik | Lance Cpl. Stephan C. Wall, wrecker operator, General Support Motor Transport Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 15 (Forward), 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), was named the Regional Command (Southwest) Marine of the Year, Jan. 2. Wall, 21, from Belt, Mont., was chosen for his strong work ethic and commitment to his duties as a wrecker operator and Marine.  

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

01.02.2011

Story by Cpl. Kenneth Jasik 

1st Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – A wrecker operator with General Support Motor Transport Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 15 (Forward), 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), was selected as the Regional Command (Southwest) Marine of the Year award, Jan 2.

Lance Cpl. Stephan C. Wall distinguished himself among all of his peers in RC(SW), which includes Helmand and Nimroz provinces. Wall used his leaders as the example to guide his success.

“I just looked up to my superiors and the Marines that have been over me,” said Wall, 21, from Belt, Mont. “I just tried to mimic what they do and tried to be what they are today.”

Wall stood out from the other Marines in his unit due to his deep level of dedication to duties as both a wrecker operator and a Marine, said leaders.

“This Marine’s tireless work ethic, professionalism, dedication and always being where the action is,” is what earned Wall Marine of the Year, said Maj. Patrick Collins, company commander, GSMT Co., CLR-15 (FWD), 1st MLG (FWD). “He is always the Marine conducting combat recoveries during combat logistics patrols. His passion for his job is an amazing feat; he always accomplishes the mission at hand without fail. He works until the job is done without complaint and is a truly skilled Marine.”

Wall’s main job is to assist in vehicle recovery during combat logistics patrols.

“If a vehicle is mechanically inoperable or hit by an improvised explosive device, we recover the vehicle so we can get back on the road and keep going,” said Wall. “We can continue and finish our mission.”

Wall is a Marine who goes above and beyond the call of duty. He has aleredy been recognized for his outstanding work in Afghanistan.

In October, Wall received a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his actions when a vehicle in his convoy was struck by an IED. Another IED detonated near him while he was helping to recover the damaged vehicle. Although the roadside bomb detonated less than ten yards away and sprayed his truck with shrapnel, Wall continued working to recover the damaged vehicle.
Wall feels that any other of the Marines he works with would have done the same thing in his situation.

“All the Marines are out here doing a really good job, and we’re doing what we can to get home. There are just a couple of things that stuck out for me to win the board,” said Wall.

When Wall first learned that he had been put up for the Marine of the Year, after receiving his Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, he was ecstatic to have such an honor bestowed upon him.

“I felt honored to be a part of the board,” said Wall. “I thought there were a lot of Marines out here who could have been put up for it.”

Wall’s company commander sees Wall as a great Marine who truly earned the award of RC(SW)’s Marine of the Year.

“[I am] honored to have been able to serve with such an incredible Marine. He deserves this award,” said Collins, 33, from Paxton, Mass.

• Date Taken: 01.02.2011
• Date Posted: 01.06.2011 01:40
• Story ID: 63072
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF