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Warlord Earns Silver Star Medal
(March 11, 2011) | 
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Sergeant Joseph M. Perez, left, who served as squad leader, 1st squad, 3rd platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7 in Afghanistan, is awarded the Silver Star Medal by Lt. Gen. John M. Paxton, commanding general, II Marine Expeditionary Force, during a ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Feb. 28, 2011. |
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — While on
patrol in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on Dec. 27,
2009, Marines with 1st squad, 3rd platoon, Fox
Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, were
completely surrounded by Taliban machinegun
positions.
Sergeant Joseph M. Perez, who
served as the 1st platoon squad leader in
Afghanistan, received the Silver Star Medal from Lt.
Gen. John M. Paxton, commanding general, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, for his actions during a
ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Feb.
28, 2011.
The sergeant and his squad were on
patrol in the western region of Helmand Province –
an area where Marines had not previously operated -
when his squad was ambushed by Taliban fighters.
While on patrol, Perez received information
concerning a nearby Taliban machine gun position
ready to ambush the Marines.
With the report
in mind, Perez split his men into three maneuver
elements anticipating an enemy |
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attack, which occurred seconds later. |
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According to Perez’s Silver Star award citation, “The enemy fighters
opened fire, pinning down Sgt. Perez and his base unit, and injuring and
isolating the squad’s pointman.”
Perez made multiple attempts to
rescue the isolated Marine, but heavy fire momentarily prevented his
movement.
“He then ordered his 2nd fire team to attack from the
north, a move which effectively reduced the enemy’s fires.”
When
Perez found out about the enemy fighters and what they were going to do,
he dispersed his fire teams in an effort to make the Marines “harder
targets.”
With Marines closing in from another direction, Perez
explained this tactic made the squad seem smaller to the enemy.
Next, a series of pivotal decisions were made to rescue the injured
Marine and kill the enemy fighters.
While under heavy fire, Perez
sprinted through 50 meters of open field to the Marine on point and
rendered aid.
His comrades followed and supported the effort to
provide aid to the pinned-down Marine, who suffered fragment injuries to
his face, Perez said.
According to the warrant, Perez then
directed the internal fire support of his squad and violently led his
base unit toward the enemy positions; closing with and eliminating
Taliban fighters.
That day, Perez and the men of 1st squad killed
two hostile fighters; captured one wounded insurgent, and collected
enemy machineguns and ammunition.
Perez said he used basic
infantry techniques to make critical decisions during the engagement.
In the end, the squad closed with and destroyed the enemy using
fire and maneuver, fundamental skills all Marines learn while in combat
training, Perez continued.
Following the ceremony, Perez
addressed his fellow “Warlords” in a school circle, stressing the
importance of basic combat techniques and unit cohesion.
Marines
like Perez are currently participating in their pre-deployment training
program, which is a series of progressively complex exercises designed
to train and test the MEU’s ability to operate as a cohesive and
effective Marine Air Ground Task Force.
The 22nd MEU is a
multi-mission capable force comprised of Aviation Combat Element, Marine
Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat
Logistics Battalion 22; Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team,
2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and the Command Element.
Marine Expeditionary Units are the Marine Corps’ smallest, permanent
Marine Air-Ground Task Force, commanded by a colonel and comprised of
approximately 2,200 service members ready to provide immediate response
capabilities in a hostile or crisis environment. While deployed, each
MEU also incorporates two KC-130 aircraft to support the unit’s
operations abroad. | |
Article and photo by USMC Sgt. Joshua Cox
22nd Marine Expeditionary
Copyright 2011
Reprinted from
Marine Corps News
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