Marines get Silver, Bronze Star for action in Ramadi

NC Times:

The two Marines say they were just doing their jobs when they led their troops in beating back an insurgent assault last year in Ramadi, Iraq.

The Defense Department says they did a lot more, and Friday awarded a Silver Star to 1st Lt. David Russell and a Bronze Star with V for Valor to Staff Sgt. Timothy Cyparski.

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The platoon was guarding an entry way into Ramadi when 13 insurgents opened fire with small arms, machine guns and grenades.

With a single shot, Russell killed an attacker who was wielding a machine gun. He and Cyparski then saw a young Marine was isolated and out of bullets and they crossed the open area to resupply him.

Russell then drew enemy fire on himself so Cyparski and the other troops could mount a counterattack.

In the course of the battle, Russell was hit in the head with a round from an AK-47 assault rifle, with the bullet striking his helmet and grazing his skull. He also suffered shrapnel wounds to his arm and face from a grenade thrown by an insurgent, but refused medical treatment until ordered to do so.

When Russell left the battle, Cyparski took command of the unit for the next three days.

Eleven months later, they say they were just doing their jobs.

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Russell said he chose the infantry to fulfill a long-held wish, and that he believes U.S. efforts to train and install an effective Iraqi army and security force are achieving success.

"It is absolutely, 100 percent working," said the native of Georgetown, Texas.

Russell's parents, Hugh and Charlotte, attended the ceremony and said they tried to keep their focus on a subject other than Iraq during their son's two deployments.

"You don't think about that knock on the door," said Hugh Russell, an immigrant from Ireland who met his wife in Tehran, Iran. He was an engineer who worked on large construction projects while his wife was teaching English to Iranian air force pilots. "The main thing is we have to support our troops regardless of what you may think about the war," he said.

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Georgetown is just outside of Austin and is home to Dell Computers.