Posted on 05/02/2006 9:13:19 AM PDT by Loud Mime
CAMP PENDLETON - He was shot seven times. Then 40 pieces of super-heated shrapnel melted into his flesh.
And at three different moments, in nanoseconds laced with adrenaline, confusion, sweat and blood, Marine Corps 1st Sgt. Bradley Kasal took account of his life.
Then he decided it would be OK if he died.
His decision earned him the Navy Cross on Monday.
--snip--
Now, after having suffered seven gunshots, Kasal decided to again put his life at risk.
He would use all of the available field dressings to help stop the bleeding of a gunshot wound suffered by a fellow Marine. He decided not to use any of the dressings for himself and instead "bleed out." It just made sense that one of them should survive.
Finally, the insurgent, knowing the injured Marines had no way out, lobbed a grenade into the room. Kasal saw the grenade, and using his own body as a shield, leapt onto his fellow Marine as the grenade exploded.
--snip--
You are an inspiration to every Marine," Maj. Gen. Michael Lehnert said to Kasal. Lehnert told the audience of more than 100 that the term "hero" is thrown around loosely in popular society.
But make no mistake he said, Kasal was the real thing.
"Marines past, present and future owe you a debt of gratitude."
Kasal said the most challenging aspect of the ordeal wasn't the 22 surgeries he endured or even fighting the opinions of doctors who suggested he should have his leg amputated.
Instead Kasal said the real pain was knowing the battle would go on without him.
(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...
This is the one. What a story! What a Marine!
And maintaining good trigger discipline too! See where his index finger is?
I swear, men like this seem superhuman to me. I can't imagine myself ever being able to live up to such an example.
-ccm
Great story! God bless this fine Marine and his family. Truly, an American hero.
In the photograph of him being carried out you can see how he still maintains basic gun safety rules even under such stress... i.e. Keep your finger off of the trigger until the sights are on the target.
Kasal's father was ill with liver cancer and could not attend the ceremony so they set up a video conference to enable the father to watch his son receive the Navy Cross. Unfortunately he passed the day before the award ceremony.
Video at:
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/index.html
SELECT:
Video: Pendleton Marine Awarded Navy Cross
Wow.
ping
That is an immigrant that all of us can be proud of!
distinguished v. disgusting
I'll surely be watching this on NBC Nightly News tonight...err... maybe not.
Gasp! RedX! We're Doooooomed!
SEMPER FI Marine!!! AWESOME purely AWESOME
It's a crime we don't hear more about these guys.
'I'm sure a CMH must be in the works.'
No, he got the Navy Cross. Maybe for the other Marine.
Every once in a while, God blesses us with men like this!
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