This is Jockel Podcast number 242 with Echo Charles and me, Jockel Willink. Good evening, Echo. Good evening.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Gunnery Sergeant Justin D. LeHue, United States Marine Corps.

For Extraordinary Heroism as Amphibious Assault Platoon Sergeant, Company A, First Battalion, Second Marines, Task Force, Tarwa.

First Marine Expeditionary Force in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom on 23 and 24 March 2003.

As regimental combat team two attacked North towards Annazaria, Iraq, lead elements of the battalion came under heavy enemy fire.

When the beleaguered United States Army 507th Maintenance Company convoy was spotted in the distance, Gunnery Sergeant LeHue and his crew were dispatched to rescue the soldiers.

Under constant enemy fire, he led the rescue team to the soldiers.

With total disregard for his own welfare, he assisted the evacuation effort of four soldiers, two of whom were critically wounded.

While still receiving enemy fire, he climbed back into his vehicle and immediately began suppressing enemy infantry.

During the subsequent company attack on the Eastern Bridge over the Afraidy's River, Gunnery Sergeant LeHue continuously exposed himself to withering enemy fire during the three-hour urban firefight.

His courageous battlefield presence inspired his Marines to fight a determined foe that allowed him to position his platoons heavy machine guns to repel numerous waves of attackers.

In the midst of the battle, an amphibious assault vehicle was destroyed, killing or wounding all its occupants. Gunnery Sergeant LeHue immediately moved to recover the nine Marines.

He again exposed himself to a barrage of fire as he worked for nearly an hour recovering casualties from the wreckage.

By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of heavy enemy fire and utmost devotion to duty, Gunnery Sergeant LeHue reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

And that is a citation about one episode in one Marines life.

And it doesn't explain everything in that Marines life nor does it explain everything about the Marine Corps.

But it does give us a glimpse into what Marines do and what are American servicemen are capable of, but it's only a glimpse.

And you know these citations throughout the military when you go to different military bases and I've been to many, many military bases around the country and around the world, these citations of heroic awards, oftentimes they're posted in various places around the base on the walls and the clouds.

And I've been to classrooms on quarter decks and throughout my career, starting as a young, young kid, I would stop and I would read through these citations and I would always wish to myself.

I would always wish that I could meet these men and I could talk to them and I could learn from them and I could see what they were, what they were really like.

And with that in mind, it is an absolute honor today to have that opportunity as Sergeant Major retired Justin Lehu is joining us to share the experiences that he had and the lessons that he learned in his service and in his life.

Justin honored to have you here. Thanks for coming out.

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