Marine awarded Bronze Star

Marine Net Online ^ | Lance Cpl. Brian Kester

[SandRat]

Marine awarded Bronze Star
Submitted by: MCRD Parris Island
Story Identification Number: 2004359350
Story by Lance Cpl. Brian Kester



MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C.(March 5, 2004) -- The recruits of Platoon 1033 have a hero in their midst, a man who has achieved what some can only dream of achieving -- a Bronze Star for actions on the battlefield. The heroic efforts displayed by this Marine in battle are a direct result of a humble man who was only "out there doing the job."

Sergeant Edward R. Ferguson, drill instructor with Platoon 1033, Alpha Company, 1st RTBn., was presented with the Bronze Star for his actions during Operation Iraqi Freedom from March to April 2003.

As the section leader, Combined Anti-Armor team, Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, Task force Tarawa, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Ferguson's courage and guidance were responsible for the sections success. With 15 Marines in his charge and under heavy enemy fire, Ferguson led his Marines on a two-day flanking mission, screening the entire battalion against elements of the Iraqi 51st Mechanized Division. He was also successful defending a bridge over the Euphrates River leading to An Nasiriyah, Iraq.

"Ferguson's ability to move from vehicle to vehicle while under direct fire was integral in supporting the battalion's effort to secure buildings along the river and along route seven," stated the Bronze Star citation.

"It is a really nice honor, and it is greatly appreciated," said Ferguson. "They gave me more credit than I deserved. I did what I had to do for my Marines. They were trained well and took care of me, and I took care of them. We had worked together for quite some time. So when it was time to go, they were on top of it."

It may have been a shock to Ferguson, but it was not to anyone involved with Fox Company's assault on a military hospital March 25. Ferguson's calmness under fire served him well in successfully defending the company from counter-attack and stopping several possible friendly-fire incidents.

The merit of the award reflects the actions on the battlefield and so did the presentation. Ferguson however, was somewhat in awe of the grand ceremony.

"I kind of wanted to just pocket the award," he said modestly. "It is a big thing in the Marine Corps [to receive a] Bronze Star, but I wasn't expecting there to be that many people there. It was one of the bigger formations, and had more media than I had ever seen for an award [presentation]."

The Alpha Company commanding officer echoed the sentiments of humility when he talked of Ferguson and of the recruits training at Parris Island.

"This is a very humble young man," said Lt. Col. Keith L. Cieri, commanding officer, 1st RTBn. "If it were up to him, he would have gotten that medal in the office with his captain giving it to him. It just goes to show that if anybody has any doubts about the new generation of Marines that are coming in, they can come down here and look at the young men that we are training and the ones who are training them."

Ferguson was rewarded for his dedication to duty and, after his return from combat, extended that dedication to the Corps by becoming a drill instructor.

"There is always something to bring into the aspects of [training]," said Ferguson. "From the day we graduated, we were taught things that we would carry with us. Basically, it all comes down [to the fact that] we are a 'Band of Brothers,' and now I have a chance to come down here and teach it myself."

In only his first cycle as a drill instructor, Ferguson has made lasting impressions throughout the command.

"He has already established a reputation as being a very dedicated professional," said Cieri. "There is no doubt in my mind that he is setting an outstanding example for these young Marines, as [all of his] recruits are already trying to be like him."

Ferguson feels the experiences he had in Iraq will remain as lasting impressions imprinted on his character.

"I will always enjoy looking back on it," he said. "It was crazy at times, but time spent with the Marines was a good experience."

[annyokie]

Nice! Thanks for posting this!

[Ramius]

Bronze with the "V" for valor, I hope. Sounds more like silver star or better material to me. Bronze stars are given to lesser things than this.

He says he doesn't deserve it, which of course means that he does. Where do we get guys like this? If I'm lucky maybe I'll get to buy somebody like this a beer some day.

[Texas_Jarhead]

oorah

[Ramius]

"It is a really nice honor, and it is greatly appreciated," said Ferguson. "They gave me more credit than I deserved. I did what I had to do for my Marines. They were trained well and took care of me, and I took care of them. We had worked together for quite some time. So when it was time to go, they were on top of it."

Tearing up on this one.

[Doe Eyes]

I hope they questioned him and found out his politics. The last thing we need is another liberal getting some kind of award.

[VOA]

He says he doesn't deserve it, which of course means that he does.

Ain't that just about always the truth!?

[SandRat]

Yep!

[Lancey Howard]

BUMP!!
Great post!

I was in 1st Battalion, Bravo, next door to Alpha at PI., long ago.
Of course, my DIs back then were Vietnam vets.
Articles like this take me back. Not that I'd want to GO back or anything.....

Ah, yeah I would.

[SandRat]

Marines don't accept much less produce those.

[Lancey Howard]

Good evening, troll.

[SandRat]

You're like all the rest of us.

If they called me today, even after being retired for 14 years, and said I had 30 days to report back on active duty, I'd ask them what all the extra days were for.

[Ramius]

Ain't that just about always the truth!?

Yes, it is. And the sad truth is that whatever got written up probably wasn't half the story, something tells me.

Gotta love our Marines, our Soldiers, and Sailors. They're the best there is on so many levels.

[Ramius]

I hope they questioned him and found out his politics. The last thing we need is another liberal getting some kind of award.

I sure hope you were drunk off your @$$ when you wrote that and didn't really mean it.

Some things aren't about politics, sport.

I'm sure there have been even Medal of Honor winners that have political views very different from mine. That doesn't mean I wouldn't still give them the respect that they have earned.

[GretchenEE]

I'm so glad to read this. I saw a special (heavy on critique but very interesting in going over the major events of the whole war) of the ops in Iraq on PBS the other night and they highlighted some of the amazing action of our soldiers at Nasiriyah (sp?) and I was impressed big time with how they took the bridge ... and wondered what type of medals were being given for it.

[IGOTMINE]

The Marine Corps awards program pendulum has swung too far the other way. I've heard that the Bronze Star is the highest award the Corps is issuing for OIF. Colonel Hackworth threw the BS flag on this.

[Ramius]

One thing you can count on is that there are not nearly enough medal recommendations that are actually written up. Most times the action is recognized within the group but the paperwork to make the actual medal happen is forgotten in the rush of other pressing issues.

For those times when the medal really does come through it means that lots of pieces of paper have crossed many desks in time.

[Ramius]

I've heard that the Bronze Star is the highest award the Corps is issuing for OIF.

I sure hope not.

I don't know that I'd trust Hackworth on this or anything else. He's become too valuable to himself as an activist. Anybody that values his own U.N. "peace" medals over and above his service to the U.S. is someone that I wouldn't put on the same podium with another U.S. serviceman.

Like I said upthread, I give Col. Hackworth the respect he deserves from what he has earned. He's also done his best to stick the knife into others that have earned beyond his example.

I'd buy him a beer for his service, but I'd probably still bust him in the chops for his stupidity thereafter. It happens.

[Centurion2000]

I hope they questioned him and found out his politics. The last thing we need is another liberal getting some kind of award.

Put down your crack pipe please. Heroism is heroism. Respect him for his valor, domestic politics mean NOTHING on a battlefield.

[My Dog Likes Me]

I'm sure this Marine deserves the BSM with V device, but I think the part about, "...Fox Company's assault on a military hospital..." requires more context.