Marine continues to fight Taliban after losing leg

USA Patriotism:

“Sorry, guys, I can’t keep going.”

Those were the words of Lance Cpl. Brady A. Gustafson to the Marines in his vehicle as he was pulled away from his smoking machine gun minutes after his platoon was ambushed July 21, 2008, by withering enemy fire in Shewan, Afghanistan.

Nobody blamed Gustafson, 21, an infantryman with 2nd Platoon, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, for not being able to continue the fight, since the opening volley on the Marine mounted patrol included a rocket-propelled grenade that pierced the shell of the mine-resistant armor-protected vehicle in which Gustafson was manning the turret gun.

That RPG severed Gustafson’s right leg, and yet he had the presence of mind to locate the enemy positions and place well-aimed machine gun fire on them, providing cover fire for the Marines in his platoon.

For his actions that day last year, Gustafson was awarded the Navy Cross and meritoriously promoted to corporal by Maj. Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser, commanding general, 1st Marine Division, at a ceremony Mar. 27 at Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.

“What I like about today is that this is an opportunity to honor a Marine who had the humility, courage, presence of mind and camaraderie to keep going,” said Lt. Col. Richard D. Hall, the former commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines – while they were deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom – noting that Gustafson was more concerned about the welfare of his brother Marines than his own safety.

“He represents what is best about the human spirit. You can’t buy that kind of human altruism.”

The Navy Cross is the highest honor specific to the Naval services and the second highest award in the U.S. military. Gustafson is just the 18th Marine to earn the award since the beginning of the Global War on Terror.

The Marines of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines battled elements of Taliban and Islamist extremists in the Helmand and Farah provinces of Afghanistan.

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After the RPG pierced the side of Gustafson’s MRAP and struck him in the leg, causing the severe injury, he stayed focused and identified enemy firing positions, which he engaged with accurate machine-gun fire.

He noticed that the vehicle to his rear had become disabled by another RPG and instructed his MRAP driver to push the hobbled vehicle out of the “kill-zone.”

By doing so, Gustafson’s MRAP became shrouded in fire. Through all this, Gustafson continued to direct fire at the enemy positions, suppressing their attacks and allowing the Marines to continue to engage the insurgents.

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Only after firing more than 400 rounds, and reloading twice, did Gustafson permit combat aid-givers to remove him from the turret to apply medical treatment to his significant injuries. Lance Cpl. Cody Comstock, a member of Gustafson’s platoon, applied his Combat Life Saver Course knowledge to the situation, wrapping a tourniquet around Gustafson’s leg and dressing the wound while Gustafson was still in the turret.

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This is an example of heroism under fire that goes beyond what is expected. BTW, Chesty Puller, one of the most famous Marines of all time had five Navy Crosses before his retirement. The Corporal is in good company.

Hat tip Opfor.