Marine’s uncommon valor in combat earns him medal during last few months in Marine Corps
AL ASAD, Iraq - Marines and sailors here say that a sergeant leading a convoy through Iraq"s western Al Anbar province showed uncommon valor in May when he pulled several Marines from a burning humvee ignited by an improvised explosive.
Story and photos by Sgt. Roe F. Seigle
Combat Correspondent, Regimental Combat Team 7
For his actions that day, Sgt. Dave Husky, 22, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a Combat "V" device, which is awarded for valor, in a ceremony at Al Asad, Iraq, Dec. 14, 2006.
Husky was riding in a humvee when one of the vehicles in the convoy behind him was struck with an improvised explosive device. The vehicle caught fire, which caused ammunition to "cook off" - or ignite from the heat.
Husky disregarded his own safety and rushed to the burning vehicle to pull everyone away from it so they could receive medical attention, said Petty Officer 3rd Class David Drew, a hospital corpsman with Regimental Combat Team 7.
Drew was there that day and treated several casualties. He says if it weren"t for Husky"s quick actions, people would have died.
"I thank God (Husky) was there that day," said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Joshua Drew, 22, a hospital corpsman with Regimental Combat Team 7. "He brought the wounded to me so I could treat them. There are Marines and Iraqis alive today because of him."
However, Husky, a native of Bellingham, Wash., said any other Marine in his position that day would have done the same thing.
"I think that if someone is hurt, you help them," said Husky, a 2002 graduate of Hazen High School. "Someone had to do it."
The modest Husky believes he did only what was necessary and does not deserve recognition for his acts that day.
"All I care about is that those guys are alive," said Husky, who spent nearly a year in Iraq as a platoon sergeant for the regiment"s "Jump" platoon - a team of Marines and sailors who provide security and perform a variety of military operations in Iraq"s western Anbar Province.
Husky"s actions that day instilled a sense of courage in Drew, who ran in the midst of stray bullets and cared for the wounded Marines and Iraqis, according to Drew.
"I will never, ever forget what Husky said when he was running toward that burning vehicle," said Drew. "He screamed ‘(expletive) my life, let"s get those guys out of there.""
Sgt. Maj. Jimmy Mashburn, sergeant major assigned to the Regimental Combat Team 7, said it is extremely important to have Marines like Husky on the battlefield.
"Husky (was) willing to disregard his own safety to save the lives of others," said Mashburn, 46, and a 27-year Marine Corps veteran. "He put himself in imminent danger (and) his actions saved lives."
Husky received the award only two months before his four-year obligation to the Marine Corps ended. He recently returned to Washington to attend college but is unsure what he wants to major in, he said.
Mashburn said that several members of Husky"s chain of command, including the Regimental commanding officer, encouraged Husky to reenlist and share his experiences and leadership with other Marines.
"I support him no matter what he does," said Mashburn, a native of Sikeston, Mo. "He will be sought after for his abilities."
The Marines and sailors assigned to RCT-7 will return home after a year-long deployment early next year.
Contact Sgt. Seigle at seiglemf@gcemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil
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CAPTIONS FOR PHOTOS:
HUSKY ZEAGLER 1 -
After receiving an award for combat valor, U.S. Marine Sgt. Dave Husky is congratulated by fellow Marines after his award ceremony Dec. 14, 2006, at Al Asad, Iraq. Husky received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat "V" device, which is awarded for valor. Husky, a 22-year-old from Bellingham, Wash., disregarded his own safety to pull wounded U.S. and Iraqi troops from a burning humvee after the vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device in May. The vehicle caught fire, which caused ammunition to "cook off" - or ignite from the heat. Husky, who recently got out of the Marine Corps after a four-year enlistment and 11 month deployment to Iraq, pulled several people away from the burning wreckage so they could receive medical attention, said Petty Officer 3rd Class David Drew, a hospital corpsman with Regimental Combat Team 7. "I thank God (Husky) was there that day," said Drew, who treated casualties on the scene. "He brought the wounded to me so I could treat them. There are Marines and Iraqis alive today because of him." Husky, who was deployed to Iraq with the Twentynine Palms, Calif.-based RCT-7, received the award only two months before his four-year obligation to the Marine Corps ended. He recently returned to Washington to attend college but is unsure what he wants to major in, he said. (Photo by Sgt. Roe F. Seigle)
HUSKY ZEAGLER 2 -
After receiving an award for combat valor, U.S. Marine Sgt. Dave Husky is congratulated by fellow Marines after his award ceremony Dec. 14, 2006, at Al Asad, Iraq. Husky received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat "V" device, which is awarded for valor. Husky, a 22-year-old from Bellingham, Wash., disregarded his own safety to pull wounded U.S. and Iraqi troops from a burning humvee after the vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device in May. The vehicle caught fire, which caused ammunition to "cook off" - or ignite from the heat. Husky, who recently got out of the Marine Corps after a four-year enlistment and 11 month deployment to Iraq, pulled several people away from the burning wreckage so they could receive medical attention, said Petty Officer 3rd Class David Drew, a hospital corpsman with Regimental Combat Team 7. "I thank God (Husky) was there that day," said Drew, who treated casualties on the scene. "He brought the wounded to me so I could treat them. There are Marines and Iraqis alive today because of him." Husky, who was deployed to Iraq with the Twentynine Palms, Calif.-based RCT-7, received the award only two months before his four-year obligation to the Marine Corps ended. He recently returned to Washington to attend college but is unsure what he wants to major in, he said. (Photo by Sgt. Roe F. Seigle)
HUSKY ZEAGLER 4 -
U.S. Marine Sgt. Dave Husky received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat "V" device, which is awarded for valor, in a ceremony Dec. 14, 2006, at Al Asad, Iraq. Husky, a 22-year-old from Bellingham, Wash., disregarded his own safety to pull wounded U.S. and Iraqi troops from a burning humvee after the vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device in May. The vehicle caught fire, which caused ammunition to "cook off" - or ignite from the heat. Husky, who recently got out of the Marine Corps after a four-year enlistment and 11 month deployment to Iraq, pulled several people away from the burning wreckage so they could receive medical attention, said Petty Officer 3rd Class David Drew, a hospital corpsman with Regimental Combat Team 7. "I thank God (Husky) was there that day," said Drew, who treated casualties on the scene. "He brought the wounded to me so I could treat them. There are Marines and Iraqis alive today because of him." Husky, who was deployed to Iraq with the Twentynine Palms, Calif.-based RCT-7, received the award only two months before his four-year obligation to the Marine Corps ended. He recently returned to Washington to attend college but is unsure what he wants to major in, he said. (Photo by Sgt. Roe F. Seigle)
ZEAGLER HUSKY 7 -
U.S. Marine Sgt. Dave Husky received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat "V" device, which is awarded for valor, in a ceremony Dec. 14, 2006, at Al Asad, Iraq. Husky, a 22-year-old from Bellingham, Wash., disregarded his own safety to pull wounded U.S. and Iraqi troops from a burning humvee after the vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device in May. The vehicle caught fire, which caused ammunition to "cook off" - or ignite from the heat. Husky, who recently got out of the Marine Corps after a four-year enlistment and 11 month deployment to Iraq, pulled several people away from the burning wreckage so they could receive medical attention, said Petty Officer 3rd Class David Drew, a hospital corpsman with Regimental Combat Team 7. "I thank God (Husky) was there that day," said Drew, who treated casualties on the scene. "He brought the wounded to me so I could treat them. There are Marines and Iraqis alive today because of him." Husky, who was deployed to Iraq with the Twentynine Palms, Calif.-based RCT-7, received the award only two months before his four-year obligation to the Marine Corps ended. He recently returned to Washington to attend college but is unsure what he wants to major in, he said. (Photo by Sgt. Roe F. Seigle)