Bronze Star awarded to Marine
Sgt. Tony S. Flynn will tell you he was just doing his job. The Bronze Star Medal, though, indicates he did more.
http://www.pendleton.usmc.mil/scout/articles/Mar%2030/bronzestar.asp
Lance Cpl. Bryan Eberly
Flynn, a 22-year-old former squad leader with Company B, 1st Battalion, 1st Ma-rine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with combat distinguishing device March 23, at an awards ceremony aboard Camp Horno here.
He received the award for his selfless leadership in Al Anbar province, Iraq, April 2006.
“You do what you got to do over there,” Flynn said.
According to the award citation, Flynn was serving with Company B to defend an embattled Iraqi Army outpost against insurgent attacks.
While moving in his squad, his convoy was ambushed by small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire from both sides of the road. He dismounted his squad and returned fire.
While maneuvering along the counterattack positions in order to aid his Marines, he noticed a four-man insurgent team setting up an RPG position. With complete disregard to his own safety, Flynn charged the position with his rifle and hand grenades. He killed one insurgent, wounded a second, and disrupted the rest of the enemy force.
Once inside the outpost, Flynn assembled a counter-attack team to breakdown the insurgent threat further. With his squad and a squad of Iraqi soldiers, Flynn cleared houses in the area where enemy fire was originating. This action forced the enemy to flee and brought peace to the outpost.
“By his zealous initiative, courageous actions and exceptional dedication to duty, Sgt. Flynn reflected great credit upon himself and his naval service,” read 1st Sgt. John S. Kob, Company B first sergeant, from the citation. “Protect the guy next to you, and complete your mission. That’s just how it is.”