Marine from Twentynine Palms to receive Navy Cross for bravery
A Marine from Twentynine Palms is set Thursday to receive the Navy Cross for bravery during combat in Afghanistan.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/08/my-entry-3.html
August 19, 2009
Tony Perry
Lance Cpl. Richard Weinmaster, 20, from Cozad, Neb., was part of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Regiment deployed last year to break the hold of the Taliban in Helmand Province.
While on a July 8 foot patrol, Weinmaster's squad was ambushed. Weinmaster used his body to protect his squad leader and other Marines from the blast of an enemy grenade.
Although seriously wounded, he continued to fire at the attackers, forcing them to flee. Only then did Weinmaster collapse from his injuries. He is credited with saving the lives of several Marines.
For Marines, the Navy Cross is second to the Medal of Honor in recognition of exceptional bravery.
During its seven-month deployment, the Two-Seven suffered 17 Marines, one Navy corpsman, a U.S. soldier and an Afghan translator killed. More than 150 troops in the battalion were wounded or injured.