Navy Cross for Marine - Incredible Story!

The Orange County Register ^ | 05/02/2005 | Michael Coronado

[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.

[Mr. Thorne]

Sounds like Congressional Medal of Honor material, to me.

IMHO, of course.

[Steelerfan]

Absolutely. What an amazing story.

[A Texan]

What a warrior and an absolute hero.

God bless him.

[philman_36]

Semper Fi.
Like the stories told of the island campaigns in the Pacific during WWII. One island in particular, I can't remember which at the moment though Iwo or the Canal seem likely candidates, had many more deaths/injuries from marines jumping on grenades to save others in their foxholes.

[SupplySider]

In addition to this man's awe inspiring courage, I love the way he made those incredibly strong second-to-second decisions to minimize the loss of life, even at the expense of his own.

How tough can you get? And what a contrast to the weak minded terrorists who dream of all the supposed heavenly benefits they personally will get with no regard to the lives of others.

[Loud Mime]

I believe it was at Iwo Jima where some officer said that uncommon valor was a common trait shared by all.

God bless these men who fight evil forces. There is no greater calling in life than fighting for good, no damnation worse than helping evil prosper.

[SupplySider]

Not only how tough can you get, but how righteous? This is one pure-hearted peace loving man. God bless him.

[Loud Mime]

I believe he Navy Cross is a precursor to the MOH.

I checked out the Medal of Honor website and there's no straight answer:

http://www.cmohs.org/medal.htm

In the USSC I cannot find a section where on medal can prohibit another:

Sec. 3741. Medal of honor: award

The President may award, and present in the name of Congress, a
medal of honor of appropriate design, with ribbons and
appurtenances, to a person who while a member of the Army,
distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at
the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty -
(1) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United
States;
(2) while engaged in military operations involving conflict
with an opposing foreign force; or
(3) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an
armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the
United States is not a belligerent party.

[xone]

'I believe he Navy Cross is a precursor to the MOH.'

Not a precursor, but a valor medal for actions deemed not to MOH standards. I'll admit I haven't done any research on it, but as a Marine, I have never seen dual valor awards for the same action. By the way, this is no slap at the 1stSgt, a Navy Cross is not small taters. Apparently in the opinion of his superiors, the conduct didn't meet the highest standard required. As a Navy Cross holder he joins the ranks of some amazing folks who did amazing things under fire.

http://www.history.navy.mil/medals/navcross.htm From the site: "The United States, with the Medal of Honor as its sole decoration, was caught unprepared not only for this custom, but also had no appropriate award to recognize heroism of a level less than that which would merit the Medal of Honor and no decoration to reward the myriad acts of meritorious non-combat service that the war would spur."

"As enacted 04 Feb. 1919, the Navy Cross was the naval services third-highest award and could be awarded for both combat heroism and for other distinguished service. Many, for instance, were earned for extraordinary diving and salvage feats. As originally third in precedence behind the Medal or Honor and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, more than one Navy Cross recipient regarded its award as a "snub" in lieu of the Distinguished Service Medal.

The same act established the Distinguished Service Medal. Both decorations could be awarded retroactive to 06 April 1917. It would be 23 years and a 07 Aug. 1942 action by Congress that would place the Navy Cross just beneath the Medal of Honor, and limit its award to combat-only recognition."

"Presently, the Navy Cross is awarded to a person who distinguishes himself or herself by extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of the Medal of Honor. To warrant this distinctive decoration, the act or the execution of duty must be performed in the presence of great danger or at great personal risk.

The 1942 legislation synchronized the Army and Navy's "Pyramid of Honor," eliminated the dual combat/noncombat award of the Medal of Honor and Navy Cross and brought several previously Army-only decorations into the naval service."

[xone]

http://www.legionofvalor.com/index.php

click on the medal, then the names. Most have their citations.

[concentric circles]

Seargent Major Kasal.

There is video coverage at these links:

NBC San Diego.com

KCCI 8 - Des Moines

It's a testament to Kasal's character that one seldom finds reference in the news stories to the Marines he directed to cover his back and the backs of those who went with him into the house.

They disappeared, resulting in the 30 - 40 minute delay in getting assistance. One could hope that they had good reason to believe they were needed more elsewhere. It's great to see him moving around in the video. He ran a mile and a half on Saturday. "It wasn't pretty, but I made it."

[Loud Mime]

Thanks for the links....the one from Iowa is very, very good.

[Loud Mime]

I see from the Iowa TV feed that he's going to be a recruiter for the Marines.

Wonder what he'll do if he sees Michael Moore?

[SupplySider]

hehe.. that's a nice thought. I'm guessing he'd just be polite, though. Moore is not worth this gentleman's attention.

[speed_addiction]

I'm sure even the Devil himself crosses the street when he sees Sergeant Major Kasal approaching. Men like him can never be honored enough.


What We Are About To Do Here Is What The Good Lord Would Call A Cleansing of the Wicked. I Call It A Good Old Fashioned Texas Ass Kicking.

[Loud Mime]

He'll probably say that despite having been shot 7 times, using a leg that almost was amputated and carrying 3 lbs of shrapnel in his body, he can still run better than Moore.

Moore is a pig; physically and mentally. I believe that our honored Marine will be an archangel when his work on earth is done.

[brickdds]

Damn straight.
Where did you find the quote?
I have a nephew at Pendleton now.
If I go out to see him I would offer to buy Kasal the best steak dinner in town.
What an American.
What part of Texas are you in?

[Stonewall Jackson]

I know there were several Marines who jumped on grenades in Iraq in 2004 and 2005.

The one I remember best was a guy who'd had a discussion with one of his buddies on the subject just a few days earlier and thought that using a helmet to confine the blast might allow the person who jumped on the grenade to survive. A few days later, while out on patrol, his squad encountered a group of terrorists and got into a gunfight with them. While their concentration was focused on these terrorists, another snuck up behind them and chucked a hand grenade into their midst. This Marine (I believe he was a lance corporal) spotted the grenade, ripped his helmet off, and dove on the grenade. The grenade partially muzzled the grenade's blast and this heroic Marine might have survived, if a single fragment hadn't struck him at the base of his throat and penetrated into his brain. He was medevaced to a hospital where he died almost two weeks later.

I know there were several other Marines who made this ultimate sacrifice, but this is the one that has stuck with me over the past few years.

[ErnBatavia]

http://www.texasobserver.org/showArticle.asp?ArticleID=2011

[Stonewall Jackson]

Thank you. I'm heading over to Barnes and Noble in a few minutes and will check to see if they have this book. If they don't then I will order a copy.