Posted on 06/25/2005 8:34:58 AM PDT by Toidylop
Camp Pendleton sniper receives Silver Star
CAMP PENDLETON ---- In April 2004, over a loudspeaker heard throughout the bloody streets of Fallujah, Iraq, insurgents pleaded with Marines to pull back their deadly accurate snipers.
They were talking about guys such as 22-year-old Sgt. John Place, a skilled scout sniper who kept his fellow Marines safe by nailing insurgents with a single shot. That skill, and his valor in Iraq, earned him a Silver Star, which he received here at a ceremony Friday.
The Silver Star is the third-highest military award designated solely for gallantry in combat.
Place, originally from St. Louis, is a former team leader with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. He was awarded the medal for his combat actions in March and April 2004 in and around Fallujah, according to the award citation, which details five instances of heroism.
Maj. Gen. Richard Natonski, who spoke at the ceremony, said the citation does not do justice to what Place, at the time a corporal, did for Marines. It was after the city ---- in one of the deadliest areas of Iraq ---- became ground zero for insurgents, and after four American contractors had been killed and burned in the streets.
"Sgt. Place went into the city and for three weeks he provided over-watch" for other Marines, Natonski said. "He was their guardian angel."
The citation states that on March 18, 2004, Place's convoy was attacked by two insurgents, who he "immediately located and destroyed ... which enabled the convoy to proceed unharmed."
On March 26, while conducting security patrols, he "neutralized" two insurgents' positions and "instilled confidence in his Marines with his calm and collected demeanor." On April 7, he coordinated with another infantry company to help eliminate enemy forces. From April 11 to 24, his "keen observation skills" provided support for other ground troops and "maintained a lethal, long-range response to enemy attacks," the citation states.
And on April 26, "an enemy force attacked a company patrol 400 meters away from friendly lines. Place disregarded his own safety and left the cover of his defensive position to close with and destroy the enemy," according to the citation.
Place, who spent his childhood hunting with his father, said he chose to be a sniper because he had the ability.
"If you have the ability, it's your responsibility," he said. "I just wanted to be the best Marine I could be."
He said that every day he thinks about what he did in Iraq and tries to focus on the positive.
"You make your peace with it," he said. "We lost a lot of good Marines over there."
With the Silver Star now adorning the left side of his desert camouflage uniform, he said he feels that it is an award for everyone who fought.
"It's great to be recognized, but ... there are people around here who've done just as heroic things," he said, looking at crowds of Marines who attended the ceremony and lined up to shake his hand.
His parents, Richard and Lynn Place, and his older brother, Richard Place, also attended the ceremony.
Lynn Place said she is proud of her son, but admits having him sent off to war ---- in 2003 and again in 2004 ---- was not easy. "It's difficult when you send off your little boy and he comes back a man who's taking care of others," she said.
Place, who joined the Marines in October 2001, is not certain whether he will re-enlist this year. He's now assigned to the 1st Marine Division Schools as a marksmanship instructor.
Contact staff writer Louise Esola at (760) 901-4151 or lesola@nctimes.com.
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I apologize for my ignorance. Obviously the Medal of Honor is the highest; what's the second-highest?
And sure, Sgt. Place's actions showed valor, but were they really as valorous as backshooting a wounded, loincloth-clad Viet Cong?
He ain't no big deal! He didn't get a "V" device on it. < /sarc >
GOOD JOB MARINE
THE WHITE FEATHER.
http://www.marinescoutsniper.com/sniper%20pages/Carlos.html
GODSPEED!!
GOOD JOB MARINE
THE WHITE FEATHER.
http://www.marinescoutsniper.com/sniper%20pages/Carlos.html
GODSPEED!!
Instituted 1919 to a member of the Navy, Marines or Coast Guard for extraordinary heroism in action against an enemy of the United States or while serving with friendly foreign forces
"Sgt. Place went into the city and for three weeks he provided over-watch" for other Marines, Natonski said. "He was their guardian angel."
Bump for a true, American hero!
Yes Navy Cross for USN and USMC. The Army equivalent is the Distinguished Service Cross.
"If you have the ability, it's your responsibility," he said. "I just wanted to be the best Marine I could be."
Free will, Free choice, All Volunteer, Sense of Duty, Protect Your Country.
-OUTSTANDING MARINE !
Why & What Marine Sgt. John Place did, for All of the above (& more) reasons, is a prime example of what makes up the American Spirit. When Evil attacks, THANK GOD we have yet another generation of americans who step-up to the fight, even knowing they might meet death for the cause.
Damn Sad how the basic Liberal will see none of this, Can't understand it, will Choose appeasement over Defense. THEY will cozy-up to the enemy, commit borderline treason AND will Verbally & Legislatively attack OUR OWN military, here and on the battle field ! THE ONLY thing the LIBERALS will fight for is to- Undermine our War effort and Embarrass America.
EEERRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr............
Missouri hero ping - thanks for the ping gummy!
Exactly!!!
guess humping the the SquadAutomatic gets you all kinda choice jobs where muscle is required... look at the ammopouches on his harness vs the guy behind him. his gun is againist the wall behind him.
I sure wish his name, face, and parents names were not published.
I don't even know this Marine, but he fills with great PRIDE.
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
This ios one of the things that I wouold like to see on the nightly news, or covered by Col North. We need some good news and some heros.
good afternoon,
they come from all over.
the d.i. said you are a different shade of green.
i was from the west side of buffalo n.y.,in a completely diverse ethnic area.
the only reason they enlist is love of country.
explosive ordinance disposal for 4 years.
this year for dad's day my children's gift was a embroidered american and marine corps flag.
they know where my heart is.
GODSPEED!
Ping ole crusty.
Pull back the deadly accurate snipers?
What, and replace them with less accurate ones?????
That's what the insurgents hope for ^-^
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