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'He Stepped Up To The
Occasion, And
Exhibited Some Incredible Bravery That Day'
(June 19, 2009) |
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP
LEJEUNE, N.C. (6/16/2009) — Staff Sgt. Philip
Crosby was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with
combat distinguishing device for heroic
achievement and sustained meritorious service
during combat operations at a ceremony, here,
June 10.
Crosby, who is now assigned to 10th Marine
Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, was the assistant
effects advisor for Military Transition Team
133, Multinational Force West from Nov. 2007 to
Oct. 2008 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Crosby and his MTT embedded with the 3rd
Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division,
to protect the Iraqi people and support the
local government in the Diyala and Baghdad
provinces.
“We went out and patrolled with [the Iraqi Army]
almost every day, usually on foot,” said Crosby.
“Our main role was to support the Iraqis by
controlling air assets, gathering intelligence,
planning operations and organizing support such
as [AH-64 Apache Helicopters] and [Explosive
Ordinance Disposal] units.”
According to his award citation, Crosby was
assigned to 20 Iraqi scouts, February 17, 2008,
when they were ordered to join 20 members of the
U.S. Army to conduct a combined raid on the
village of Bodija. |
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After capturing multiple enemy suspects,
Crosby and the Iraqi scouts set out on foot in cooperation
with the U.S. Army, in pursuit of possible insurgents
spotted by air assets.
After a two-kilometer patrol, the U.S. and Iraqi forces came
under fierce ambush from insurgent forces.
During the ensuing battle, Crosby exposed himself to enemy
fire to communicate and coordinate a counter-attack with the
army unit.
While still receiving sporadic enemy fire, Crosby again
exposed himself to assist wounded soldiers and escorted the
wounded to a helicopter landing zone.
“He stepped up to the occasion, and exhibited some
incredible bravery that day,” said Lt. Col. John John Orille,
who worked with Crosby in Iraq. “He intuitively thinks on
his feet and executes with confidence. His judgment is
spot-on at the snap of a finger. No matter what you throw at
him, he’s able to assess the situation and take action.”
Crosby's leadership enabled the battalion to foster an
environment of security and stability for the Iraqi people.
“The last time I’d been to Iraq was during the invasion,”
said Crosby, an Inman, S.C native. “I saw a lot of
differences from before. Mostly with the people in the towns
we went and cleared. You could see the difference two or
three days later, because there would be kids playing in the
street that weren’t there before.” | |
Article and
photo by USMC LCpl. John Faria
II MEF
Copyright 2009
Reprinted from
Marine Corps News
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