2/7 Marine awarded Navy Cross

United States Marine Corps ^ | April 6, 2009 | Pfc. Michael T. Gams

[freema]

On July 21 Gustafson was manning the turret of the lead vehicle, a mine resistant ambush protected vehicle, or MRAP, during a four-vehicle mounted patrol riding through the streets of Shewan, Afghanistan.

That’s when things got ugly.

The patrol came under heavy fire from machine guns as well as rocket-propelled grenades from hidden insurgent positions.

One of the RPGs hit Gustafson’s MRAP, piercing its armor, rendering the driver unconscious and partially amputating Gustafson’s right leg.

Despite his injuries, Gustafson remained vigilant on his M240B machine gun, locating and accurately firing on several insurgent positions, some as close as 20 meters from the vehicle.

He remained in the turret, reloading twice and firing over 600 rounds, while Lance Cpl. Cody Comstock, an Anderson, Ind. native, applied a tourniquet to his leg.

[freema]

Biggern’ life. Made a boo-boo with sumpthin’ : )

[Frantzie]

These kids are so brave. I say kids because they are so young.

[stylin19a]

Hope you have a big dinner table.
These Marines are absolutely incredible.

What eats me alive is, what tears me up is, for the most part, America is so disconnected from this war and these magnificent Warriors.

[LeoWindhorse]

There has got to be a way to defeat the RPG
Think of how many good Americans that damn thing has killed
and wounded over the years . There’s got to be a way....

[Semper Mark]

That's one tough young Leatherneck.

Semper-Fi Gustafson.

[freema]

I do have a big table, stylin’, and I love to cook a lot of everything : ) I couldn’t be happier cookin’ for ‘em, unless I’m tuckin’ ‘em in and kissin’ ‘em good night. But it’s hard to get clearance for that in the barracks. It’s my own special ops LOL.

Here’s a very nice piece from a local paper about this wonderful Marine:

http://www.startribune.com/yourvoices/42291537.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUdcOy9cP3DieyckcUsI

[Parley Baer]

Interesting as I just finished watching a show about the combat in Afghanistan showing some of the firefights. From that I can picture what he did and the circumstances. There are some brave souls fighting for us.

[freema]

If they’d only let me go yell at those RPGs.

[freema]

Indeed, a brave young Marine. They shake me to my toes, these boys.

[freema]

Doesn't he make you proud ♥

I'm going to hit the hay, ready to cry and no one wants to see that!

[Semper Mark]

Proud to say the least. He's a far better man than I.

[Redbob]

"Despite his injuries, Gustafson remained vigilant on his M240B machine gun, locating and accurately firing on several insurgent positions, some as close as 20 meters from the vehicle.

He remained in the turret, reloading twice and firing over 600 rounds, while Lance Cpl. Cody Comstock, an Anderson, Ind. native, applied a tourniquet to his leg."

[Dubya]

[Redbob]

"There has got to be a way to defeat the RPG"

One diameter 0.30 hole between the eyes of the maggot with the launcher should do it.

[Dubya]

Lance Cpl. Brady Gustafson

[A.A. Cunningham]

Try posting that photo in a manageable size.

[eyedigress]

That didn’t help much A.A.

[freema]

Thank you, A.A.!

[freema]

Shoot, it was way better than mine!