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| Iraq |
| Heroism in Haditha |
| 2006-06-28 |
| Like 99.9% of Marines operating in Iraq, the men of 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines are out there every day operating with courage and professionalism in a hostile environment. In this case, it was LT Posselt’s platoon from India Company patrolling the streets of Haditha. Acting courageously in the midst of a firefight, the lieutenant performed heroically, though he declines any such accolades. Sgt. Roe F. Seigle reports: Regimental Combat Team 7 HADITHA, Iraq, June 27, 2006 — Marines here say a lieutenant who was leading Marines and Iraqi soldiers through the volatile streets of Haditha, Iraq, June 14, showed uncommon valor when he ran into a barrage of enemy gunfire to pull a wounded Marine to safety. 1st Lt. Rick Posselt, a 25-year-old from Crystal River, Fla., said he is not the Marine who deserves the recognition.Cpl. Michael Estrella, who was killed by sniper fire during that same patrol, is the real hero and deserves the recognition, said Posselt. The mission Posselt, a platoon commander assigned to the Hawaii-based India Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, led the Marines and their Iraqi Army counterparts on that day was like any other – a patrol through the winding streets of Haditha. On this particular patrol they were searching for a suspected insurgent. [....] When Posselt came to an intersection in a marketplace, the Marines began receiving gunfire and saw Estrella, 20, fall to the ground. Shortly after the initial “cracks” of enemy gunfire pelted the ground below and spit up shards of concrete around him, Posselt said his platoon was shot at from another direction. Posselt’s first instinct was to get Estrella to safety – and he did so risking his own life in the process. As the enemy gunfire continued, Posselt ran to the wounded Estrella and pulled him approximately 15 feet to safety, further exposing himself to more gunfire.“I just did what my instinct told me to do,” said Posselt. “I was just trying to take care of my Marines.” Looking back, Posselt feels any other Marine in his position would have done the same thing that day. “I just happened to be the Marine closest to Estrella when he fell,” said Posselt. “I had to get him off that street and that was really the only thought going through my mind.” John B. Dwyer |
| Posted by:anonymous5089 |
| #12 Gotta be honest, I somewhat fell for it, but I knew in the back of my head that Sgt. Highway was in a movie I'd seen...just couldn't place it. Guess I jump to conclusions about how insane the moonbats are in posting here. |
| Posted by: BA 2006-06-28 22:12 |
| #11 It's rare when someone gets one over on the hard core RBr's. Impressive. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-06-28 19:50 |
| #10 Now I gotta go rent the movie Heartbreak Ridge. One of the great things about being old is that you forget the movies you've seen, and when you see them again, it like the first time. Not that way for sex, though. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-06-28 16:34 |
| #9 Apologies likewise for me. Totally over my head. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-06-28 15:04 |
| #8 I'm with RWV - and the guy played his new CO character as as a real PC prick |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-06-28 14:38 |
| #7 Ahh, he was being subtle, RWV? I'm afraid I'm not very good at that -- I need to be told things directly. If you want me to know you're quoting, you have to use quotation marks and attributions, or I won't get it. I hope you're right; I do hate disliking people on first acquaintance. Elmeath Sleash8721, if I owe you an apology, then I'm truly sorry. Would you be so kind as to clarify? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-06-28 14:09 |
| #6 TW, I think that ES's comment was a reference to the Clint Eastwood movie (Heartbreak Ridge) in which Clint Eastwood plays a Marine gunnery sergeant who had won the CMH with the 23rd Infantry at Heartbreak Ridge in Korea. In the movie, the phrase was uttered by a particularly inept, vicious, and obnoxious company commander. My guess is that ES was trying to be clever as a tribute to the obvious heroism of the Marine lieutenant. But then again, I've been known to be wrong before. |
| Posted by: RWV 2006-06-28 13:48 |
| #5 Elmeath Sleash8721's post feels like it came from the kind of mind that would burn flags. If it could coordinate the hands to strike a match. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-06-28 12:26 |
| #4 Perhaps I'm misinterpreting, but Elmeath Sleash8721's post feels like it came from the kind of mind that would burn flags. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-06-28 12:16 |
| #3 YA but the MSM doesen't give discounts...... I wonder if the EDITORS WIFE DOES!!! |
| Posted by: ARMYGUY 2006-06-28 09:17 |
| #2 SGT. Highway, I've heard all about you. And your bullshit heroics. |
| Posted by: Elmeath Sleash8721 2006-06-28 08:15 |
| #1 I imagine this kind of stuff happens every day. I suppose the MSM finds this sort of story 'boring'. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2006-06-28 07:19 |