Photo By Master Sgt. Rebekka Heite | Cpl. Christian W. L. Carthen stands at attention after receiving a Purple Heart on...... read more read more
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CAMP HANSEN, Japan - A Marine specialized search dog handler who was wounded in Afghanistan June 28, 2011, was honored in front of his fellow Military Police Support Company Marines here March 1.
Cpl. Christian W. L. Carthen accepted a Purple Heart for his actions after being hit with shrapnel from an improvised explosive device during a 15-day mission in Gereshk province, Afghanistan.
Carthen is part of MP Support Company, III Marine Headquarters Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.
“Cpl. Carthen deployed into harm’s way, took an injury and kept going,” said Maj. F. Scott Newton, commanding officer of MP Support Company. “Immediately after going back to triage, he wanted to go back out. One week after being hit, he was back fighting.”
On the day Carthen earned his Purple Heart, he had only been in Afghanistan for one month.
His dog, Cobra, alerted him to an IED in a creek bed that his squad was going to cross, he said. Cobra and Carthen have been a team for three years.
He stopped the squad and signaled for them to back out.
“It was my duty to ensure the Marines were safe,” said Carthen.
As the squad moved back, one of the Marines accidentally triggered the IED, causing it to explode. Carthen, who was standing between the IED and the squad, was hit with shrapnel.
When Carthen was injured, his command was notified by phone because Marine specialized search dog handlers deploy as independent operators, said Carthen.
“I found out [Carthen was injured] a day after it happened,” said Cpl. Justin D. Territo, a specialized search dog handler with MP Support Company. “I was numb at first. This was my best friend, my brother. We had been to canine school together, specialized search dog school together and our first duty station together. I have never felt such helplessness,” he added.
“He’s a modest Marine who pushes forward, ready to fight at a moment’s notice,” said Newton.
Carthen, in his own modest manner, disagreed.
“A lot of other Marines have gone out there and lost their limbs and their lives, they are the true Purple Heart winners,” said Carthen
| Date Taken: | 03.01.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.19.2012 05:00 |
| Story ID: | 85436 |
| Location: | CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JP |
| Hometown: | SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 717 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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