Profiles of Valor - USMC Sgt. Montoya

[Ysabel Kid]

Profiles of Valor: U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Montoya

During the Battle for Baghdad in April 2003, United States Marine Corps Sgt. Scott Montoya was serving as a Scout Sniper, Scout Sniper Platoon, 2d Battalion, 23d Marines, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, in Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. At one point, enemy fire had Montoya's sniper team pinned down, and he directed his team to return fire while he ran into an open roadway to rescue an Iraqi civilian trapped in a vehicle. Montoya spotted a wounded Marine on the same roadway and led him to safety, and then another wounded Marine, and then another, who was unconscious, and then a fourth, all while shooting at the enemy with his free hand. Later, when Montoya was asked how many bullets went by him as he rescued four fellow Marines, he answered, "About 300." He added, "I saw a hurt Marine and all my training came into play. It wasn't a cognitive thing; I just saw the situation and cared for my Marines." For his "extraordinary heroism," Sgt. Montoya was awarded the U.S. military's second-highest honor, the Navy Cross.


Semper Fi!

[JerryB]

A real American hero, nice to read about them.

[Jaguarundi]

Thanks for posting.

[gamekeeper]

It never hurts to be reminded of these brave men and their deeds. Thanks for posting Jay.

[Borregos]

game keeper +1

[BlueStateSaint]

Ya know what really torques me about stories like Sgt. Montoya's?

If he died, he'd be up for The Medal.

Lately, dying in doing something heroic like this is a requirement to get The Medal.

DOD has to realize that there has to be a soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine who does something like this, lives to tell about it, and deserves The Medal.

Oh--The Medal usually comes with the words "of Honor" after it.

But, back to my original point, because he didn't die in the act, he doesn't get The Medal. That's wrong. If a soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine does something that, if said service member died, would get them The Medal, and said servicemember survives, they should get The Medal.

[1886]

Fortunately, there are many just like this fine man serving today. 1886.

[kimwcook]

A good man doing the right thing. I salute you Sergeant Montoya. Ooooorraaahhh! Semper Fi.