Navy Honors Civilian Journalist for Saving Marine’s Life

American Forces Press Service ^ | Staff Sgt. Joy Pariante, USA

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2009 – A civilian journalist received a top Navy honor in Iraq on Jan. 24 for his heroism in saving a Marine’s life while in Afghanistan.

Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Paul Lefebvre, deputy commanding general for Multinational Corps Iraq, awards cameraman Chris Jackson with the Department of the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award at Al Faw Palace on Camp Victory, outside of Baghdad, Jan. 24, 2009. He received the award for saving a Marine from a burning vehicle in Afghanistan, Aug. 3, 2008. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Joy Pariante  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Then-Fox News cameraman Chris Jackson, embedded with a Marine Corps platoon, was traveling by Humvee down a dangerous road in Afghanistan on Aug. 3 when it hit 50 pounds of homemade explosives. All of the vehicle’s passengers escaped the flaming vehicle, with the exception of vehicle commander Marine Corps Sgt. Courtney Rauch.

The blast severely injured Rauch and knocked him unconscious. Jackson, despite having received shrapnel wounds himself, rushed back to the vehicle, pulled Rauch out and carried him to safety.

"Without Chris' quick thinking and heroic act, I would have lost my life that day," Rauch said. "Chris forgot about being a reporter that day and became one of our brothers and acted as one of us. Chris went above and beyond his duty."

Jackson, who now works for CNN/Turner Broadcasting, was presented with the Department of the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award, the second-highest award given to civilians by the Navy, for his actions. Jackson received the award at Al Faw Palace at Camp Victory, outside of Baghdad, during a stop in Iraq en route to India. An audience of appreciative Marines was on hand during the ceremony.

Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Paul Lefebvre, deputy commanding general for Multinational Corps Iraq, has a son in the same company with which Jackson was traveling. Lefebvre, who presented the award on behalf of the Navy, asked his son if all the wonderful things being said about Jackson were true.

"I asked him, 'Is this the real thing?' and he said, 'Yeah Dad, this guy's a hero,'" Lefebvre said. "This was not an everyday action. It came from somewhere deep inside and shows such a level of courage and commitment.”

When told in front of the crowd why he was invited to Al Faw Palace, Jackson blushed. "It goes to show that Marines have a good sense of humor," he said. "I was told I was coming here for a briefing."

Jackson said he didn't think twice about risking his own life to save someone else's.

"I wasn't thinking. I saw there was trouble, and I didn't even think about grabbing a camera and filming it," Jackson said. "I just did what anyone else would do if someone was in trouble."

(Army Staff Sgt. Joy Pariante serves in the 13th Public Affairs Detachment.)

Related Sites:
Multinational Corps Iraq

Cameraman Chris Jackson was awarded the Department of the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award at Al Faw Palace on Camp Victory, outside of Baghdad, Jan. 24, 2009. He received the award for saving Marine Corps Sgt. Courtney Rauch from a burning vehicle in Afghanistan, Aug. 3, 2008. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Joy Pariante   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

[dware]

These days, it’s comforting knowing there are still heroes out there. Thanks for posting.

[LeoWindhorse]

there are tons of heroes out there ! Most of them wear a uniform of a branch of the Armed Forces of the United States !

[BIGLOOK]

'Where do they come from?'

It's something often asked about our military who serve with honor and sacrifice. Some of that rubbed off.

Bravo Zulu

[max americana]

I can easily forgive him from moving from FoxNews to CNN but it’s refreshing that a mbr of the MSM actually saved one of our boys who needed it the most. Kudos to Chris Jackson.

[Secret Agent Man]

Immediately after receiving the award, CNN promptly fired the cameraman.

[headstamp 2]

Uh oh. This is going to piss off Dan Rather. According to him, a reporter is supposed to just watch a platoon walk into an ambush.

[TXnMA]

"Immediately after receiving the award, CNN promptly fired the cameraman."

Is that a fact?

[sit-rep]

Just outta curiousity, where were all the other occupants of the vehicle?

Don’t get me wrong, the guy did good. But what about the other soldiers? Would’nt it be instictive of them to pull their brother out?

Somethin aint sittin right here...

[Secret Agent Man]

sarcasm

[SandRat]

All of the vehicle’s passengers escaped the flaming vehicle, with the exception of vehicle commander Marine Corps Sgt. Courtney Rauch.

[ArrogantBustard]

Dan Bla^ther is a disgrace to humanity.

[sit-rep]

Yes, I read that... I would guess the rest of the vehicles occupants were military right? Why didn’t they go back for the sgt?

It just sounds like they all sat there and the reporter went back and saved the guy... If that is the case, someones got some ‘splainin’ to do!!

[SandRat]

Suspect the reporter was the first to react and the closest of the group. Just my guess.