The Marine Corps on Friday will award Sgt. Philip A. McCulloch Jr. the Silver Star Medal for his heroic actions in Afghanistan. The 22-year-old is currently a drill instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.
The award ceremony is slated for this Friday at 8 a.m. in the Pendleton Hall courtyard at MCRD San Diego.
According to McCulloch's award citation, he showed "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action" as squad leader with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment based out of Camp Pendleton. The citation reads that on January 8, 2011:
"After being attacked by enemy fighters, he personally lead his squad's counter attack... Only after six hours of fighting, with his squad dangerously low on ammunition and himself wounded in the leg did her return to friendly lines."
Childhood friend Brandon Bowers told YourHoustonNews.com during McCullouch's May 2011 homecoming parade in Houston:
“PJ’s always had the biggest heart. He’s that kind of guy that puts everybody else in front of him. That’s what makes him such a great leader, I guess, with what he does. He won’t accept something that’s kind of flown by. It’s got to get done officially. It’s got to get done quickly. That’s why he’s excelled, in everything that he’s done, so rapidly. He’s just an all-out; he’s a go-getter.”
DVIDS News shot an interview with Sgt. McCullouch in November of 2010. He spoke with video journalist Cpl. Skyler Tooker about a memorial ceremony at Camp Leatherneck for his fallen comrades.
