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Corpsman Receives Bronze Star For Saving Marine’s Life
(March 7, 2011) |
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| | MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (MCN - 2/25/2011) — A
Navy corpsman didn’t expect hundreds of Marines clad in
green digital camouflage utilities to fill an entire field
house just for him – but they did. |
Navy Seaman Matthew A. Dishmon, a corpsman with
3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine
Division, received a Bronze Star with combat
distinguishing device aboard Marine Corps Base
Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 25, 2011, for saving
the life of a Marine during a patrol in Marjah,
Afghanistan, last year.
“I couldn’t
believe all those people were there and I didn’t
know (until now) how big of a deal it really
was,” Dishmon said as he thought about the
ceremony. “I felt like I was just doing my job.”
Considering both Brig. Gen. W. Lee
Miller Jr., the assistant division commander,
and Sgt. Maj. John C. Carman, the sergeant major
for the division’s force generation element,
were there along with other senior Marines to
congratulate him and offer him his very-first
two military challenge coins, Dishmon admitted
he was a little nervous. |
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Navy Seaman Matthew A. Dishmon, a corpsman with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, is awarded the Bronze Star with combat distinguishing device Feb. 25, 2011, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. Dishmon was awarded the medal for saving a Marine's life in Marjah, Afghanistan, during the battalions most recent deployment. |
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That nervousness didn’t appear to reveal itself to the
Marines who were with Dishmon when they were attacked a year
ago.
While on patrol, Dishmon’s unit was ambushed
and Lance Cpl. Matthew T. Earle, an assault gunner with
Company I, 3/6, was shot before he could seek cover. Dishmon
exposed himself to machine-gun fire to move Earle away from
the fire to treat his wounds.
“Earle and I were in
the back of the patrol,” Dishmon recalled. “Earle didn’t
make it across before he got hit in the middle of the road.
“It was dark and you could see (streaming lights of)
machine-gun tracers fly by. I yelled to the guys (to let
them know) Earle was hit, but they couldn’t hear over our
machine-gun, so I ran out in the road and I grabbed him.”
After taking off Earle’s protective gear, Dishmon
assessed Earle and provided proper medical treatment.
Although extremely grateful for Dishmon’s efforts, Earle
has trouble recalling anything from the incident, but fellow
Marines remember it clearly.
“If it wasn’t for ‘Doc’
that night, Earle would not be here,” said Lance Cpl. Chris
W. Ducharme, a team leader with I Co.
While 3/6 was
deployed, Dishmon helped about 30 people, which includes
Marines, civilians and soldiers of the Afghan National Army.
“It’s essential to have a good corpsman,” said Cpl.
Evan S. Rinkenberg, a squad leader for I Co. “Especially in
a place like Marjah were we were getting into firefights
every day. Dishmon would be there for anybody if they needed
him.”
For those corpsmen expecting to join Marines in
combat for the first time, Dishmon’s advice was simple,
“Remember the basics and don’t lose your cool.”
The
Bronze Star is awarded to individuals who distinguish
themselves by heroic or meritorious achievement or service
while engaged in action against an enemy of the U.S and,
when awarded for valor, it is the fourth highest award in
the American armed services. |
Article and photos by LCpl. Walter D. Marino II
2nd Marine Division
Copyright 2011 | |
Reprinted from
Marine
Corps News
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