Posted on 06/16/2004 9:28:46 AM PDT by sean327
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division Story Identification #: 200461633050
CAMP INDIA, Iraq(June 11, 2004) -- Five Iraqi Civil Defense Corps soldiers were decorated by Marines for bravery under fire during a ceremony June 11.
Col. John R. Toolan, commander for Regimental Combat Team 1 awarded two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals and three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals to the Iraqi soldiers. The soldiers were cited for braving enemy fire to aid Marines in a May 30 clash. The awards included "V" devices for valor.
Marine infantrymen and their Iraqi counterparts jointly walked the beat at Kharma May 30, where ICDC soldiers battled back the enemy while protecting a Marine from further gunshot wounds.
"I was walking beside the Marine, then we heard gunfire, and I saw that the American Marine was shot," explained Iraqi Pvt. Imad Abizaid Jasiam through an interpreter.
"Then I realized it was just me and him, so I quickly started shooting at the enemy," added the 26-year-old from Nassir Wa Al Salaam, about the Marine who was wounded in the leg by enemy fire.
Jasiam and Iraqi Pvt., Kather Nazar Abbas, pulled the downed Marine behind an elementary school for cover. The whole time, they continued to exchange fire and ducked rocket-propelled grenades.
"While the Marine was being moved for cover, three other ICDC soldiers jumped in front of the firefight and provided some pretty accurate level of suppressive fire on the enemy," said 2nd Lt. Charles Anklin III, the platoon commander for Combined Actions Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.
"They got engaged from the rear by an unknown enemy-size force, and they were accurately trying to target them," added Anklin, a 28-year-old from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Jasiam said more ICDC soldiers soon made their way toward the schoolhouse, where he instructed them to form a circle around the wounded Marine and provide suppressive fire.
Jasaim, Abbas and Iraqi Sgt. Abdullah Sadoon Isa, Cpl. Eiub Muhamad Hussane, and Pvt. Ahmad Lazim Garib were all credited with saving the Marine. They all repelled the enemy assault.
"We had to protect him until the doctor (corpsman) began giving him medical attention," Jasiam said.
Gradually dislodging the enemy, Anklin said the soldiers began reconstituting and quickly forming an attack.
"The ICDC ultimately assaulted through the enemy's position and pushed them out," Anklin said.
"You've witnessed the bravery of these soldiers from India Company, (who) were willing to shed blood with Marines to make sure we get a free Iraq," said Toolan, shortly after the ceremony. "The important aspect is that the Coalition and Iraqi forces have worked together, and the bond you see between the ICDC soldiers and Marines has become rock-tight."
Jasiam said that since the skirmish, a new relationship was formed between ICDC soldiers and Marines.
"I feel very, very bad the Marines was shot because they are like my brothers now, but I'm ready to go out again," Jasiam said. "I am always ready."
Local village sheiks and Iraqi military leaders attended the rite, which was followed by a secondary ceremony.
Iraqi soldiers - some 162 of them - graduated a seven-day training camp held at Camp India.
The Marines under RCT-1 built-up the training facility and opened its door a week ago, which is designed to enhance military customs and infantry tactics within the ICDC.
Big props to these brave soldiers.
The new Iraqi military faces one tough row to hoe. For decades they've been the enemy of the Iraqi people.
bump
You bet! I'll wager these Iraqi's will soon "high-five" each other to "Semper Fi".
Allah be praised.....;^)
I did have to smile at the Iraqi soldiers' descriptions of the action...can you imagine the Americans talking that way? Maybe it's just the "interpretor", but they sound so almost naive...seems they have a ways to go, but by golly they are on the right track!!
Got to praise 'em when they deserve it and build up their confidence and pride.
ping
I found the problem!!!!
If Iraq had one of them "no guns around school property" laws, this Marine would never have gotten shot....
Shared peril, such as combat, will turn strangers into brothers. I hope we hear of more reports like this one.
Exactly. Owning a weapon and not knowing how o use it to it's full potential is useless. Sounds like these guys are "catching on" in military tactics and actions despite the language barrier from English to Iraqi. They keep "ponying up" and they can do good. I hope ten years down the road, they can say "Wow, those first couple of years working working with the U.S.A. Marines was tough. Glad they worked with us, so that now we can handle our own problems." Nothing is going to go forward till they can defend their own country, and we can't continue to do it for them, this is the passing of the torch ( I hope the whole country is moving this way SOON).
You ain't kidding. I have heard that Sadr's Shiiteheads are dead meat when they engage any of our forces and cannot immediately run and hide.
Things are looking up in Iraq. Spread the news because the MSM won't tell us that.
Proud moments like this will do much to prop up the morale and sense of duty needed for the future. Hope we hear plenty more of this.
RTCG - you may enjoy this one (for the GOOD GUYS). .
Pinged the crew.
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