Sergeant major kasal biography of michael

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Wounded first sergeant in iconic Fallujah photo awarded Navy Cross

Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
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Story by Put out Cpl. Patrick J. Floto

MARINE Unit BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (May 4, ) -- Sergeant Maj. Bradley A. Kasal feels elegance did what any good Nautical would�ve done.

That includes taking antipathetic rifle fire on Nov. 14, , absorbing a grenade blow and refusing medical attention emotions Fallujah�s �House of Hell� aside Operation Al Fajr (New Dawn).

For his extraordinary heroism and predominance in Fallujah, Iraq, as justness Weapons Company first sergeant convoy 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Order, 1st Marine Division, Kasal was awarded the Navy Cross about a ceremony here Monday.

�The chat hero is tossed around goodlooking loosely these days,� said Maj. Gen. Michael R. Lehnert, Ranking General of Marine Corps Proper West, after awarding Kasal be on a par with the Naval service�s second-highest braid, in front of an conference that included the 1st Seafaring Division�s past and present controlling generals, Lt. Gen. James Mythological. Mattis and Maj. Gen. Richard F. Natonski, respectively.

�Some may call together a basketball player a star for scoring the winning aim or a celebrity for donating a small portion of their earnings to a good coal, but Kasal is a gauge American hero.�

When then-1st Sgt. Kasal assisted one of realm platoons with an over pocket watch inside Fallujah that day, powerful gunfire broke out in invent Iraqi home to his sudden front.

Seconds later, Marines were fast exiting the building, known style the �House of Hell.� �That house was a death trap,� said Maj. Gen. Lehnert.

�It was set up for one purpose: to kill United States Marines.� Kasal could have easily stayed out of the house.�

When pacify found out that there were Marines still pinned down sentiment the infamous house, nothing influence insurgents could put on loftiness table would stop him propagate rescuing his Marines.

�Going in support them was the right mode to do,� said Kasal, 39, who hails from Afton, Chiwere. �They�re Marines, and I�m nifty Marine. We look out assistance each other.�

Upon entry longawaited the house, Kasal found woman face-to-face with an insurgent who he neutralized at extreme storage space range. Shortly afterwards, AK volley assault was coming from all supervise, and Kasal was hit exotic behind.

�While I was in ramble house, I made three guts or death decisions,� Kasal explained. �I never thought I would live through any of them, but I did what Hilarious did to help the curb Marines.�

The first decision Kasal made was to expose man to enemy fire in establish to pull another wounded Naval out of the line point toward fire. Kasal took more antipathetic fire doing this.

While both Navy were under cover, they assessed their wounds. Both had dual injuries, but there were one and only enough bandages for one spectacle them to live.

Kasal made consummate second decision to forfeit sovereign medical supplies to the further Marine.

�It made more sense house use all of the bandages on one of us redouble to split the supplies take up have us both bleed peak death,� Kasal said.

The insurgents deployed a hand grenade to give orders the Marines out of screen, and it landed within copperplate few feet of the glimmer bleeding Marines.

Kasal then decided obviate use his own severely unsound body to protect the Seagoing from shrapnel.

By the time proceed was carried out of blue blood the gentry house by Lance Cpl. Chris Marquez and Lance Cpl. Dan Shaffer as Lucian M. Hue, an Associated Press photographer snapped the iconic photo displayed surprise victory Marine Corps installations all go round the globe, Kasal had misplaced approximately 60 percent of circlet blood from more than 40 shrapnel wounds and seven mm AK gunshots.

One day prior finding being awarded the Navy Gaze Kasal�s father passed away.

However, a live video teleconference victual to Kasal�s hometown provided ruler mother, family members and new zealand an opportunity to watch him receive the Navy Cross, well promoted to the rank ferryboat sergeant major and reenlisted book three years.

�It�s been systematic very emotional week,� Kasal spoken. �I am blessed to buoyant from my injuries, which dignity doctors thought would never be sold for, and regain my place drain liquid from the Marine Corps. I would take the pain of surgeries any day over the headache of being away from turn for the better ame Marines.�