1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment Silver, Bronze Star Awards Ceremony

Courtesy Photo | Sergeant Kenneth R. Rick, a former squad leader with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, is scheduled to receive the Silver Star Medal, the nation's third highest award for heroism, from Lt. Gen. John A. Toolan, I Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general, during a ceremony at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Feb. 18. Three fellow Marines with the battalion will also be awarded medals for valor. Rick deployed to Helmand province, Afghanistan in 2012. On June 22 and 23, after completing an air assault into Qaleh-Ye Gaz, Rick and his squad were attacked from multiple positions by medium machinegun and indirect fire. Rick subjected himself to the enemy fire four times to employ his M4 Carbine and M203 grenade launcher accurately while directing the maneuver of his squad. By his leadership, his squad provided devastating fires on the enemy, forcing their immediate withdrawal. Later that day, with complete disregard for his own safety, Rick left cover and ran out of the patrol base, covering 200 meters of open ground to lead a security team and recover a mortally wounded Marine. Though enemy rounds impacted within feet of his position as the security team maneuvered to the patrol base, Rick calmly directed the fire of the squad. He remained outside the patrol base, suppressing the enemy until all of his Marines were safely inside. Rick later led his squad to counter a complex ambush. The precision fire he employed from his grenade launcher destroyed two enemy fighters and directed close air support aircraft onto their targets, ultimately leading to the destruction of the enemy. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Alfred V. Lopez / Released)  

TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES

02.11.2014

Courtesy Story

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, will be awarded two Silver Star Medals and two Bronze Star Medals, during an award ceremony held at LCpl. Torrey L. Gray Field, Tuesday.

Lt. Gen. John A. Toolan, I Marine Expeditionary Force Commanding General, will award the Silver Star Medal will to 1st Lt. Kenneth A. Conover III and Sgt. Kenneth R. Rick, for their heroic actions, which embodied bold initiative, undaunted courage, and complete dedication to duty while deployed to Afghanistan in June of 2012.

Toolan will also award the Bronze Star Medal, with Combat ‘V’ to SSgt. Joshua R. Brodrick and Sgt. Nicholas N. Brandau for their valiant achievements in connection with combat operations against the enemy while deployed to Afghanistan in June of 2012.

****Media coordinating instructions ****
Media interested in covering this event must call the MCAGCC public affairs office at [phone] and must RSVP no later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 17. Members of the media who have RSVP’d will meet at MCAGCC’s Main Gate located on Adobe Rd. at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18 to the event. Please plan to remain on base for two hours.

Any media interested in covering the Cpl. Jason L. Dunham Mess Hall dedication ceremony held the same, at 9:30 a.m. are welcome to be escorted to both events. Please reference Media Advisory #14-002 CPL. JASON L. DUNHAM HALL DEDICATION CEREMONY for further details.

• Date Taken: 02.11.2014
• Date Posted: 02.11.2014 19:21
• Story ID: 120485
• Location: TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIFORNIA, US