Posted on 06/02/2006 5:05:33 PM PDT by SandRat
PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter presented the Bronze Star to Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW/SCW) Reginald Dean at Naval Hospital Pensacola June 1, for his heroic life-saving actions following a suicide-bomb explosion near Fort Tal-Afar in Iraq.
Winter presented the Bronze Star medal to the Naval Branch Health Clinic Whiting Field, Fla., corpsman before a specially-chosen, six-person ‘Honor Formation,’ and another full contingent of previously-deployed Naval Hospital personnel.
"This award is unique in and of itself," Winter said. "It is a noteworthy statement of what this individual has done for his country."
Following the presentation, Dean said, he was "overwhelmed and humbled" by the ceremony. "This is by far one of my proudest moments as a Navy hospital corpsman," he said.
While in Iraq, Dean, who grew up in Northport, Mich., was attached as senior enlisted medical advisor and combat corpsman to Coalition Military Assistance Training Team (CMATT), a multinational security transition command that trained members of the New Iraqi Army and police.
April 12, 2005, in an area outside of Fort Tal-Afar, the independent duty corpsman rushed to the scene of a suicide-bomb explosion that reportedly had killed Iraqi Army soldiers and civilians and caused scores of injuries. Without regard for the inherent danger to himself, Dean rode to the scene in a “thin-skinned” Iraqi ambulance and began triage on 10 wounded, including a four-year-old boy with head injuries.
The senior chief continued to provide care to the child and readied him for a helicopter medical evacuation flight. Those efforts greatly enhanced the boy’s chances of survival.
Over the eight months he was in Iraq, Dean was the primary provider rendering life-saving emergency care during six separate mass casualty situations to more than 45 wounded soldiers and civilians.
"Hospital corpsmen are the most decorated of any other corps in the Navy," said NH Pensacola Commanding Officer, Rear Adm. (sel.) Matt Nathan.
NH Pensacola has been the most deployed U.S. Navy Medicine command over the past 18 to 24 months. The ‘Honor Formation’ at the Pensacola award ceremony was a symbolic representation of NH Pensacola personnel’s deployments throughout the world – to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, the Republic of Georgia, and Cuba.
For related news, visit the Naval Hospital Pensacola, Fla. Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/nh_pensacola/.
Pensacola, Fla. (June 1, 2006) - Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Dr. Donald C. Winter, presents the Bronze Star to Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Reginald C. Dean, at Pensacola Naval Hospital. The NAS Whiting Field Corpsman received the medal for heroic action while serving with an Army unit in Iraq.Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Reginald C. Dean Awarded Bronze Star
I guess it is OK, but I would much rather see an Admiral or a uniformed service member pinning a medal on another service member. I know, the Sec of the Navy is a pretty big shot, but he isn't IN the Navy.
It just got under my skin is all.
The Chief is a very brave man, and a salute to him.....Congrats.....Bob
Congratulations to Corpsman Dean.
Well done Senior Chief Dean. I never saw a Corpsman above the Rank of E6 out stomping with the troops in 'Nam. Wonder why the Senior Chief was out there instead of some of the younger "cannon fodder"
"corpsmen are the most decorated of any other corps in the Navy"
Ask any Marine and they will tell you why that is a fact...
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