Posted on 04/07/2006 6:44:14 AM PDT by radar101
In a war marred by prisoner-abuse scandals and rife with political wrangling, Nathaniel R. Leoncio's heroic actions in Iraq are the pure stuff of legend. Leoncio, a 24-year-old corpsman, received the Bronze Star yesterday at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton.
The Navy petty officer third class was on patrol with Marines in southern Ramadi on Oct. 4 when they were struck by a series of roadside bombs. The explosives killed one Marine and seriously injured three other men, including Leoncio.
At least two of the bombs detonated under the 6-ton Humvee that carried Leoncio, flipping it upside down and on top of him, severing his right leg just below the knee.
Although his right thighbone was shattered and he was bleeding internally, Leoncio refused to be evacuated. He ignored his wounds and cared for a severely injured Marine, likely saving the man's life.
Lt. Bradley Watson, who was riding with Leoncio and would later write the recommendation letter for the corpsman's medal from his hospital bed, said: “It was one of the most outstanding combat actions I saw, if not the most outstanding. I saw my two combat tours of Iraq. I have no hesitation in saying that.
“Doc Leoncio knew he was very seriously injured,” Watson said. “He was spitting up blood, he had shrapnel in his stomach, and he had lost so much blood. He had every right to be worried about his own injures, but he wasn't.
Amid the chaos of the attack, Watson yelled for a corpsman.
“And (Leoncio) said, 'Why are you calling for a corpsman when you have one right here?' ” Watson recalled. “It was funny and inspiring at the same time.”
So he wouldn't bleed to death, Leoncio calmly told a Marine to tie a tourniquet on his injured leg. As he gave the instructions, Leoncio treated a platoon commander who was bleeding profusely from a fist-sized shrapnel wound in his hip.
Capt. Rory Quinn, who was riding in a Humvee behind Leoncio's, described what it took to get the corpsman to leave the scene.
“We had to lie to Doc and tell him that all the Marines had been taken off the battlefield before he would allow himself to be moved,” said Quinn, who knew that a Marine was still trapped in a wrecked Humvee.
“He won't brag on himself,” Quinn added, “so I have to do it for him.”
Ten minutes elapsed before Leoncio believed that all the injured were receiving proper care. Then he allowed others to evacuate him. He was sent to Germany and then the United States for long-term care and rehabilitation.
Yesterday, Leoncio balanced on two crutches and a single leg as Lt. Gen. John Sattler, commander of the Camp Pendleton-based 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, pinned a Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Device above the corpsman's heart.
Dozens of people attended the ceremony, including about 20 of Leoncio's relatives and friends, some of whom had flown in from his native land, the Philippines.
Leoncio seemed embarrassed by the attention.
The ceremony “was a little too big and unnecessary. I wish they just sent it to me in the mail,” he joked.
“As everyone comes up to me and thanks me for my service, I want to thank all of you for your service,” said Leoncio, whose face is dotted by gray scars that he calls “shrapnel tattoos.”
“I don't remember what I did,” he continued, “but I know that anyone in my unit would've helped me out like I helped them out.”
The Oct. 4 attack occurred during Operation Bowie, in which about 1,200 U.S. and Iraqi troops searched the outskirts of Ramadi for insurgents and arms caches.
The Marines of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment – based at Twentynine Palms – were moving toward their designated patrol area when they were hit from the rear by an improvised explosive device. A few seconds later, at least two blasts hit the lead Humvee, which carried Leoncio, Watson and other Marines.
Last week, the Lima Company returned from Iraq. Leoncio, who was wearing a prosthetic leg, was there to welcome them home.
“He was standing on two legs and it was very good to see him,” said Watson, executive officer for the 3rd Battalion.
Thirteen U.S. corpsmen have died in combat during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Web site www.corpsmen.com.
In addition to serving in wars and other foreign conflicts, corpsmen have responded to natural disasters, military accidents and other peacetime emergencies. They belong to the Navy Hospital Corps.
Currently, the Corps' 23,000 regular and 6,000 reserve members are assigned to naval hospitals, clinics, surface ships and submarines worldwide.
Leoncio, who lives in Temecula, plans to pursue a career in the medical field after finishing his military service. He said he has undergone “a ton” of surgeries and has a few more to go.
Leoncio is a special find, said Command Master Chief Richard Moriarity, the top enlisted man at Camp Pendleton's Field Medical Service School, where corpsmen train to accompany Marines for war duty.
“There have only been maybe 50 Bronze Stars awarded to corpsmen during the Iraq war. This award is rare because it is a combat award and the criteria for such a high award is very strict,” Moriarity said.
As Leoncio leaned on his crutches, a red carpet rolled out before him, 90 future corpsmen dressed in their summer whites filed by. All of them shook his hand, and many of them had a look of awe on their faces.
Rick Rogers: (760) 476-8212; rick.rogers@uniontrib.com
The left coast hack that penned this piece really does a discredit to the soldier in the first sentence...
I'm surprised it was just a Bronze Star.
Me too...the commendation could be upgraded if the proper paperwork gets filed. I've seen that happen.
We thank them from the bottom of our hearts, these brave young men.
The Bronze star can be awarded for a number of things non-combat related, when it's combat related...that's when the "valor" device is added.
The Silver star is awarded purely for distinguishing actions under fire in a combat zone.
Is the Silver Star our 3rd highest decoration ?
BARF
Should get a CMH...
'The Silver Star is awarded purely for distinguishing actions under fire in a combat zone.' Well, except in the case of the great John Kerry, idiot windsurfer and stalker of rich men's wives/widows. Didn't he finagle a Silver Star for himself?
Great story, wonderful soldier...words inadequate. (I'd hope the feds would fund his medical education.)
Thanks for posting this.
Salute to Corpsman Leoncio and God Bless.
Hero Ping!
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