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bradley kasal (born 1966 in marengo, iowa) is a sergeant major in the united states marine corps who received the navy cross for heroic actions performed as the 1st sergeant of weapons company, 3rd battalion, 1st marines during a firefight in operation phantom fury in fallujah, iraq on november 13, 2004.
on may 1, 2006, in a ceremony at camp pendleton, kasal was awarded the navy cross, followed by his promotion to sergeant major and reenlistment in the marine corps.
in a fire fight in a house in fallujah, although wounded by seven 7.62 mm ak-47 rounds and hit by more than 40 pieces of hot shrapnel from a grenade while using his body to shield an injured fellow marine, kasal refused to quit fighting and is credited with saving the lives of several marines during the u.s. assault on insurgent strongholds in fallujah in november 2004.
by the time he was carried out of the house by lcpl. chris marquez and lcpl. dan shaffer, kasal had lost approximately 60 percent of his blood.[1]
the photograph of kasal, taken by photographer lucian read — blood soaked and still holding his pistol and k-bar knife — being helped from the building by fellow marines, has become one of the iconic pictures of the war.
the president of the united states
takes pleasure in presenting the navy cross to
bradley a. kasal
first sergeant, united states marine corps
for services as set forth in the following citation:
for extraordinary heroism while serving as first sergeant, weapons company, 3d battalion, 1st marine regiment, regimental combat team 1, 1st 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.
due to the injuries, kasal lost four inches of bone in his right leg. kasal has undergone 21 surgeries to date in order to repair his injuries and save his leg. kasal continues his recovery from his wounds.
sgtmaj kasal's current assignment is as the sergeant major of recruiting station des moines, iowa.
"while i was in that house, i made three life or death decisions. i never thought i would live through any of them, but i did what i did to help the other marines."
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