U.S. Navy Capt. Matthew C. Gratton
Navy Reserve Medical Corps Capt. Matthew Gratton receives congratulations from Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. John C. Harvey Jr. in Cleveland, Aug. 28, 2006. Gratton earned a Bronze Star for his duties as commander of a medical detachment serving with the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines in Al Anbar province, Iraq. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Sheehan)
By Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Sheehan - Navy Office of Community Outreach
CLEVELAND, Aug. 30, 2006 — Capt. Matthew C. Gratton, a Navy Reserve Medical Corps officer, was presented the Bronze Star for his actions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, during a ceremony here Aug. 28.
Although Gratton lives and works in Kansas City, Kan., he regularly drills as the commanding officer of a medical unit at Navy Operational Support Center Cleveland. He received the medal for actions performed as battalion surgeon with the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines in the Al Anbar province of Iraq while deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“This award,” said Gratton, “is really a representation of the hard work performed by my people.”
Gratton was responsible for the health and welfare of 1,700 Marines, sailors, and Iraqi soldiers based in two camps and three firm bases. He organized and supervised more than 1,700 medical visits at battalion aid stations and provided specialized medical care to more than 1,000 patients. He provided trauma care to more than 150 wounded-in-action, who were evacuated to Camps Haditha and Hit. On May 7 alone, he supervised, treated, and stabilized 11 casualties wounded in combat from a coordinated improvised explosive device attack in Haditha.
The ceremony was conducted along the shores of Lake Erie at the decommissioned submarine and now museum USS Cod. Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. John C. Harvey Jr., presented the Bronze Star. Other attendees included Gratton’s wife, Joanne, many of the corpsmen who were deployed with him, sailors from the Navy Operational Support Center, and numerous Clevelanders, including Mayor Frank G. Jackson.
“Of course I’m very proud,” said Joanne, “not only of my husband, but also of all the men who went over there. They’re family to us.”
The Bronze Star is awarded to any person who, while serving in or with the U.S. military, distinguishes himself though heroic or meritorious achievement, while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States.
