Posted on 12/16/2004 4:51:25 PM PST by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C., Dec. 16, 2004 -- In a mountain range in the barren, poverty-stricken country of Afghanistan, automatic-weapons fire and grenade explosions fill the air with soot and rock debris. The high altitude and polluted air choke the Marines and local military forces as enemy tracer rounds whiz past, forcing them to hunker behind whatever cover they may find.
Amid all the chaos and destruction, one man returns fire, adrenaline pumping through his veins. Maintaining his composure and exhibiting poise under fire, he shouts out orders, directing his men to continue firing.
After almost 45 minutes of what seemed to him as a firefight that would never end, Marine Gunnery Sgt. William E. Bodette scans the terrain and sees that his troops have routed the hostile ambush.
He pats himself down and looks all over his chest for signs of entry wounds, but feels none. Bodette reaches down into his cargo pocket and pulls out a worn-out laminated photograph of his wife and three children, thanking the Almighty that he is still alive.
This is the third time this deployment the enemy has ambushed his troops, and the third time he's walked away, miraculously unscathed.
"I could hear (the rounds) snapping off all around me, and I even felt the heat of a rocket-propelled grenade as it flew right over my head," stated the Company K, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment company gunnery sergeant. "All around me I saw the green and red lights of the tracers. I don't know how I didn't get hit. I thought I was going to die for sure many times."
Boldly leading his troops and remaining stalwart under fire, the 36-year-old Clearwater, Fla., native's command presented him with the Bronze Star Medal with combat "V" device Dec. 13 during a ceremony here.
The award was created in 1944 to recognize individuals distinguishing themselves by heroic or meritorious achievement, both of which Bodette displayed.
"His decisiveness and combat leadership enabled three different patrols to quickly overpower enemy forces, and he was also directly responsible for establishing landing zone security for evacuating wounded U.S. and Afghan Forces," the award citation states. Still, Bodette remains humble.
"I owe my life to a lot of people, to all the Marines who were with me and did what they were trained to do," Bodette said. "I did what I've been trained to do all the years that I've worn this uniform, and I didn't do anything special. Somebody just saw me and thought I had."
Bodette has much to be proud of, military awards aside. As a 16-year veteran of the Marine Corps and former Marine Corps Recruit Depot drill instructor, he has touched many lives. It is this that gives him the greatest sense of personal satisfaction and accomplishment, he said.
"Not too long ago, I went to the (National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.) to award one of my former recruits (Cpl. Mark O'Brien, an infantryman with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment) his Purple Heart," Bodette said. "He was injured during a firefight in Ramadi, (Iraq,) and now he's missing his right arm and leg. He specifically asked for his senior drill instructor to pin on his medal.
"It was the greatest honor of my life," Bodette added. "No Bronze Star could ever take the place of what I did for that Marine, a Marine that I made. That's what's so special about the Marine Corps. It's not about the individual wars going on right now, or being able to say 'I did this, I did that,' but about the service you're doing for your country and your fellow Marine."
(Marine Cpl. Mike Escobar is a combat correspondent with 2nd Marine Division Public Affairs.)
Semper Fi and Thanks Gunny!
Hero bump!!
These guys awe me.
Now here we have a real hero, people. He does not seek fame or medals nor does he believe that he did anything special. I seem to remember a fake hero about a month or so ago that all we heard about was his unearned medals in Vietnam. Jeez, for the life of me, I can't remember his name! Wait! Now I remember. Jim Kearny! Yea, some guy on Hannity said it.
May this fine man continue to survive. May the Angles look after him and his fellow Marines!
".... I can't remember his name! Wait! Now I remember. Jim Kearny! Yea, some guy on Hannity said it."
Yea. That was his name, and his VP running mate was, aaaah...yea.........Stu Ped. Yea that's their names, hey.
I'm an artist, yea, going to be a famouse rapper star to!
Yea man, whatever you do........don't vote for what's that guys name? Oh ya..........Bush.....and ahhhhh, jee I don't
know his vice president's man. Hey man, I'm an artist I don't git into that shit, yea know,that Bush guy is going to try to draft me man, yea know.
Sickning isn't it.
Semper Fi to this brave Marine and all his buddies in harms way!
"Yea. That was his name, and his VP running mate was, aaaah...yea.........Stu Ped."
I always thought it was spelled Stew Pedd. Oh well ;^)
bump
Me too!
There's no pucker factor worse than an ambush. God Bless these brave Americans.
"I always thought it was spelled Stew Pedd. Oh well ;^)"
I thought that to. Then afterward assumed Sean was pronouncing it to mimick.........Stupid. I almost did write "Stew", but must admit I did not think of "Pedd".
Perhaps I should join the young budding artist!
Hang in there.
I had the very distinct pleasure of meeting and drinking with gunny Bodette here at a local watering hole in Albany.
He’s stationed at MCLB Albany, GA.
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