Six Camp Pendleton Marines were honored Thursday for their bravery in Afghanistan: one with the Navy Cross, and the others with the Bronze Star.
All part of a Marine Corps Special Operations Team, they took part in one of the most historic battles during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Gunnery Sgt. Brian Jacklin, who was the team’s second in command, described the June 2012 battle at an early morning ceremony at Camp Pendleton Thursday.
He and ten fellow Marines were helping the Army stabilize villages in the Helmand province when they were surrounded on all sides by their foes.
“The enemy had the advantage in terms of geographic position, they had the advantage in terms of local fire power. Everything was working against that team,” said Maj. Gen. Joseph Osterman at the ceremony.
Coming under heavy fire, the team leader and another Marine suffered life-threatening gunshot wounds.
“I was on the rooftop, and then I was shot and slumped over and realized I was paralyzed. At that point I immediately… really the only actions I had taken from that point on was to make a radio call,” said Capt. Derek Herrera.
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Jacklin is credited with quickly organizing a counterattack, getting another way to communicate with a nearby unit for support.
He said medevac helicopters were about five minutes away, and they were about to blow a hole the wall of the compound where they were taking cover. But he hesitated and turned back to his team.
“I asked the guys, I said, 'Look, does anyone have a problem with risking it to take these guys out there because if we don't, they're going to die here,’” said Jacklin. “And there wasn't a second of hesitation. Everyone says, ‘I'm in, let's do it, let's do it.”
They secured a landing zone for the choppers, with Jacklin in the open, throwing grenades on the insurgents and directing fire. The helicopters were able to land and evacuate the wounded.
Soon, another special operations unit arrived to relieve Jacklin’s team, but he remained behind to the next day. Military officials say he gave them intelligence, tactical assistance and accurate personal fires.
For those actions, Jacklin was given the Navy Cross – the military’s second highest valor award. He is the eighth service member in the Marine Corps Special Operations Team’s nine-year history to get the award.
“I have no words to describe what I’m feeling,” Jacklin said with the Navy Cross in his hands, “other than I’m proud to be a part of this organization, to work with the men that I do.”
For their efforts, Gunnery Sgt. William Simpson IV, Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Buckminster, Staff Sgt. Hafeez Hussein, Sgt. William Hall and Sgt. David Harris received the Bronze Star on Thursday.
Unfortunately, Navy Seal Team Three, which came in to assist in this battle, did suffer losses. During the ceremony, the Marines acknowledged their sacrifice. Another two service members involved in the battle will be presented with a Silver Star and a Bronze Star at a later date.
