Navy Secretary Ray Mabus will be at Camp Pendleton Monday to present awards for valor to four members of the Pendleton-based 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion. The three Marines and one Sailor performed their heroic duties in Afghanistan in July of 2010.
The Marine Corps Times reports Marine Sgt. William B. Soutra will receive the Navy Cross at Monday's ceremony. Marines Maj. James T. Rose and Staff Sgt. Frankie J. Shinost are to be awarded the Silver Star, as is Navy Hospitalman Corpsman 1st Class Patrick B. Quill.
The four men, according to the Marine Corps Times, were ambushed on July 10, 2010 in Helmand province, in an attack that lasted over the course of two days. A bomb killed their element leader on the second day. However:
The survivors repeatedly braved enemy fire to retrieve him and assist the Afghan troops, enabling coalition aircraft to swoop in, provide suppressive fire and ultimately evacuate the team.
