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bobdina
07-28-2009, 02:39 PM
Bradley Kasal

* Date of birth: 1966
* Place of birth: Marengo, Iowa
* Home of record: Afton, Iowa
*

A photograph of Bradley Kasal, taken by photographer Lucian Read, the First Sergeant blood soaked and still holding his pistol and K-Bar knife while being helped from the building by fellow Marines," became one of the iconic pictures of the War on Terrorism. He lost four inches of bone in his right leg and has undergone 21 surgeries to date in order to repair his injuries and save his leg. He was promoted to Sergeant Major shortly after being awarded the Navy Cross. Corporal Robert Mitchell was also awarded the Navy Cross for his own heroism in the action on this date. Sergeant Major Kasal chronicled his career and more specifically, the actions of his fellow Marines in Iraq in a book titled: "My Men are My Heroes."

Awards and Citations

1.
Navy Cross

Awarded for actions during the Global War on Terror

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to First Sergeant Bradley A. Kasal, United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as First Sergeant, Weapons Company, Third Battalion, First Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, FIRST Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 13 November 2004. First Sergeant Kasal was assisting 1st Section, Combined Anti-Armor Platoon as they provided a traveling over watch for 3d Platoon when he heard a large volume of fire erupt to his immediate front, shortly followed by Marines rapidly exiting a structure. When First Sergeant Kasal learned that Marines were pinned down inside the house by an unknown number of enemy personnel, he joined a squad making entry to clear the structure and rescue the Marines inside. He made entry into the first room, immediately encountering and eliminating an enemy insurgent, as he spotted a wounded Marine in the next room. While moving towards the wounded Marine, First Sergeant Kasal and another Marine came under heavy rifle fire from an elevated enemy firing position and were both severely wounded in the legs, immobilizing them. When insurgents threw grenades in an attempt to eliminate the wounded Marines, he rolled on top of his fellow Marine and absorbed the shrapnel with his own body. When First Sergeant Kasal was offered medical attention and extraction, he refused until the other Marines were given medical attention. Although severely wounded himself, he shouted encouragement to his fellow Marines as they continued to clear the structure. By his bold leadership, wise judgment, and complete dedication to duty, First Sergeant Kasal reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Service: Marine Corps

Rank: First Sergeant

bobdina
07-28-2009, 02:40 PM
During the fight to re-take Fallujah on Nov. 13, 2004, Sgt. Kasal led a group of Marines in assaulting a building where other Marines were pinned down in a fierce firefight with insurgents. Kasal killed one insurgent before another shot him and a fellow Marine, severely wounding them both. Kasal was shot again as he dragged his wounded comrade to a position out of the line of fire, and began to render first aid. An insurgent then tossed a grenade about four feet from the two men, and Kasal placed himself over his comrade to shield him from the blast. Shot a total of seven times and suffering more than 40 shrapnel wounds, Sgt. Kasal was photographed holding his pistol as he was helped out of the building by two fellow Marines. Kasal was presented with the Navy Cross on May 1, 2006, but he told the Marine Corps Times in 2005 that "as far as protecting another Marine, that’s what Marines do. There’s nothing heroic about that."