Bronze star awarded for breaching under fire

Marine Corps News ^ | Dec 1, 2005 | Lance Cpl. Patrick J. Floto

[SandRat]

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Dec. 1, 2005) -- Due to the heroic achievement of then Gunnery Sgt. Daniel W. Fleming under harsh conditions – including extremely low visibility and heavy enemy small-arms, machinegun and mortar fire – the Marines of Regimental Combat Team 1 were able to move into the city of Fallujah in the days leading up to Operation Al Fajr (New Dawn).

The 39-year-old from Minneapolis, Minn., is now a master sergeant, and was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Advice here Dec. 1.

On Nov. 7, 2004, Fleming, platoon sergeant for Combat Engineer Detachment, RCT 1, 1st Marine Division, exposed himself to enemy fire numerous times in order to blast his way into Fallujah so the rest of RCT-1 could engage the enemy inside the city.

After the platoon commander’s vehicle was disabled, Fleming immediately assumed command of the vehicles through treacherous terrain to the railroad tracks on the northern edge of the city, according to his award citation.

Under a barrage of enemy fire, he charged out of the safety of his amphibious assault vehicle, placed explosives at the first breach point, returned to the AAV, and again charged out to place the remaining explosives at the second breach point, said the citation.

After the 20 explosives were detonated, he set out again on foot under low visibility and heavy enemy fire and ground-guided the D-9 bulldozers in the clearing of tons of steel, concrete and debris in order to create the breach lanes, said the citation.

“The Bronze Star is a personal award, but while I was out there, there were a bunch of Marines to the left and right of me doing the same thing I did,” said Fleming. “In the end, no matter what the circumstances or conditions, everything is about mission accomplishment and that is exactly what myself and my Marines did.”

[SandRat]

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Master Sgt. Daniel W. Fleming stands tall after being awarded the Bronze Star with a Combat Distinguishing Device here Dec. 1. Fleming earned the Bronze Star for his actions in the days leading up to Operation Al Fajr. Fleming and several other Marines under his command exposed themselves to enemy gunfire numerous times in low visibility conditions while making breach ways in order for Regimental Combat Team 1, 1st Marine Division to move into the city of Al Fallujah. Fleming, 39, was the platoon sergeant for Combat Engineer Detachment, RCT 1, 1st Marine Division. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Patrick J. Floto)(released) Photo by: Lance Cpl. Patrick J. Floto

[SandRat]

[RAY]

Thank God for these men!

[Squantos]

HUA !

[devildognc]

Just a normal day for the Gunny and thanks for the picture loved it.

[Americanwolf]

WOW ping!

[Prost1]

Someone from Murtha's district should forward him a copy of this....

A little reminder of what Marine's are about!

[SandRat]

add a Social Calling Card and a White Feather to the package to the SurrendeRATS.

[undocumentedrat]

Marines have to earn their medals. Interesting that the U.S. Army awards the same medal if you allow your self to be captured. ; )

SandRat, you related in any way to the original APACHERAT ?

[SandRat]

Sorry not.

[tet68]

Breachers to the front! Bump.

Outstanding!

[Trajan88]

Outstanding Master Sgt. Daniel W. Fleming!

Thank you for taking care of business.

[CalvaryJohn]

Sounds like he was cheated out of a silver star. Way to go, Marine!!

[MensRightsActivist]

He certainly deserves his bronze star. I think I saw him and his story on the military channel. There is an even more incredible story about a serviceman who was killed while manning a 50 caliber machine gun in an Iraqi action. He and his buddies were in a really bad situation tactically and this guy on the machine gun took out 50 insurgents, according to the military channel, before he was killed. His actions saved his buddies. The situation was brought under control only due to his heroism. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously. When our service-people come back to America (the one's who made it) I certainly hope our society (we the people) makes sure they get very best we can give them in every way.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[csvset]

Thanks for posting these stories, as the MSM avoids them like the plague.