Major Chris Gideons received the Bronze Star for combat following his service in Iraq. He returned last fall and is now serving in Ohio.
Posted on 01/11/2004 8:52:11 PM PST by Flora McDonald
Gideons Honored for Military Service
Amy Ridolphi, Editor
Major Chris Gideons knows the reality of combat first-hand. Despite the daily dangers he faced during his tour in Iraq, the Marine was recognized with high honors for his bravery.
Gideons, a graduate of Powhatan High School, received the Bronze Star for combat upon his return to the states two months ago. The honor is a note of pride for both him and his family.
Gideons was deployed to Kuwait last February as a member of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. As the operations officer, Gideons helped lead the attack into Baghdad.
“I was responsible for preparing the battalion for combat. I received my orders and analyzed them with the advice of the battalion commander. I then translated them into the orders for the subunits and managed the conduct of the operation,” Gideons said.
The Marine calls his time in Iraq a “life experience.” His battalion faced a month of sustained combat and saw first-hand the dangers of the war.
“We didn’t get much sleep during that time. We had to deal with our own concerns and fears, but we knew we had a job to do,”
As operations officer, Gideons was responsible for an important campaign as well as many lives. “I was most afraid of failing in my job, resulting in a high risk of danger to my fellow Marines. My concern was doing my job effectively with the least loss of lives,” he said. “My own mortality was at the back of my mind, but it wasn’t an overriding concern.”
Looking back on his time in Iraq, Gideons said there was one experience that stands out in his mind and presented a great challenge. As his battalion headed to Nazirea, they were responsible for holding a road to allow thousands of vehicles and more than 4,000 Marines to pass.
“Another Marine unit before us experienced 50 to 60 casualties. We were constantly under fire. It was my most challenging experience, but it’s the accomplishment I’m most proud of as a battalion.”
Gideons admits the firefight presented some “tenuous” moments, but he knew the battalion would be successful. In addition to pride of his battalion’s accomplishments, Gideons is also proud to be part of the war as a whole.
“I was a part of something as monumental as liberating a country and it’s something I’m proud to have participated in.”
The Marine believes his battalion’s success was possible because of good training as well as strong working relationships. Gideons’ group is one of the most senior battalions that served in Iraq. The men have worked together for more than two years.
“We had a strong sense of cohesiveness. We know our fellow Marines and we know how to depend on each other.”
This wasn’t Gideons first combat experience. He served in Somalia in 1992 and in Haiti in 1995. While he was accustomed to the “jitters” of a combat environment, serving in Iraq was his first experience as an operations officer.
Gideons said his highest concern was for his men and ensuring that he “led them well” during their mission in Iraq. In that regard, Gideons was also a success; his battalion sustained to casualties.
Once Baghdad was captured, Gideons and his battalion were also involved in maintaining security in the uncertain country. Despite the pervasive terrorist activity, the Marine said most Iraqi citizens were pleased with the presence of the U.S. military. He stands behind America’s decision to invade Iraq. “I definitely feel that we’re doing the right thing as a nation for the Iraqi people.”
Gideons believes U.S. forces are making progress in subduing Saddam loyalists responsible for much of the violence in Iraq. “We need to identify the bad guys and identify where they’re operating to eliminate that threat. It can be difficult. We need to be sure we’re engaging the appropriate people. If you arrest or harm a civilian, then the civilian population can turn against you.”
According to Gideons, the “ruthlessness of Saddam’s forces is apparent.” He said some innocent civilians are forced to fight with Saddam loyalists because they fear the repercussions against them or their families.
However, with Saddam out of power, Gideons believes they have a realistic chance of forming a democratic society.
Upon his return to the states, Gideons planned a romantic surprise for his wife, Valli. She did not know that her husband would be returning. On the day he arrived in California, Valli was running in a marathon. As she approached the finish line, the announcer informed the crowd that Valli had a surprise waiting for her. “Her jaw dropped when she saw me. She was so shocked and surprised when she realized I was home. We have some pictures that really capture the moment,” he said.
Since returning to American soil, Gideons has been reassigned to a base in Cleveland, Ohio where he heads the recruiting division for Northeast Ohio. Now that his life is more stable, he and Valli hope to start a family.
Gideons’ parents, Rick and JoAnn, still live in Powhatan. Mr. Gideons, who serves as chairman of the school board, said he’s proud of his son’s accomplishments. “I'm very proud of Chris, but I’m also proud of all the men and women serving in the military in Iraq and Afghanistan to protect the freedoms of Americans,” he said.
Mr. Gideons also complimented the men in his son’s battalion and called them “an impressive group of young men.” In addition, he credited the Powhatan community in helping make his son a success.
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