Infobox Military Person
name= Bradley Kasal
born= 1967
died=
placeofbirth= Marengo, Iowa
placeofdeath=
caption= Kasal awarded the Navy Cross and promoted to Sergeant Major on May 1, 2006
nickname= Brad
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Marine Corps
serviceyears=
rank= Sergeant Major
commands=
unit=3rd Battalion 1st Marines
battles= Iraq War *Operation Phantom Fury
awards= Navy Cross Purple Heart
laterwork=
Bradley Kasal (born 1966 in Marengo, Iowa) is a Sergeant Major in the United States Marine Corps who received the Navy Cross for heroic actions performed as the 1st Sergeant of Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines during a firefight in Operation Phantom Fury in Fallujah, Iraq on November 13, 2004.
On May 1, 2006, in a ceremony at Camp Pendleton, Kasal was awarded the Navy Cross, followed by his promotion to Sergeant Major and reenlistment in the Marine Corps.
Actions in Iraq
In a fire fight in a house in Fallujah, although wounded by seven 7.62 mm AK-47 rounds and hit by more than 40 pieces of hot shrapnel from a grenade while using his body to shield an injured fellow Marine, Kasal refused to quit fighting and is credited with saving the lives of several Marines during the U.S. assault on insurgent strongholds in Fallujah in November 2004.
By the time he was carried out of the house by LCpl. Chris Marquez and LCpl. Dan Shaffer, Kasal had lost approximately 60 percent of his blood.[Floto, "U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bradley Kasal: Wounded First Sergeant Awarded Navy Cross, "Defend America", 2006.] ]The [http://patriotpost.us/news/images/kasal.jpgphotograph of Kasal, taken by photographer Lucian Read] — blood soaked and still holding his pistol and K-Bar knife — being helped from the building by fellow Marines, has become one of the iconic pictures of the war. [ Floto, "Wounded Marine in iconic Fallujah photo awarded Navy Cross", "Marine Corps News", 2006.]
Navy Cross citation
The President of the United States Takes Pleasure in Presenting The Navy Cross To
Bradley A. Kasal First Sergeant, United States Marine Corps
For Services as Set Forth in the Following Citation:
For extraordinary heroism while serving as First Sergeant, Weapons Company, 3d Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 13 November 2004. First Sergeant Kasal was assisting 1st Section, Combined Anti-Armor Platoon as they provided a traveling over watch for 3d Platoon when he heard a large volume of fire erupt to his immediate front, shortly followed by Marines rapidly exiting a structure. When First Sergeant Kasal learned that Marines were pinned down inside the house by an unknown number of enemy personnel, he joined a squad making entry to clear the structure and rescue the Marines inside. He made entry into the first room, immediately encountering and eliminating an enemy insurgent, as he spotted a wounded Marine in the next room. While moving towards the wounded Marine, First Sergeant Kasal and another Marine came under heavy rifle fire from an elevated enemy firing position and were both severely wounded in the legs, immobilizing them. When insurgents threw grenades in an attempt to eliminate the wounded Marines, he rolled on top of his fellow Marine and absorbed the shrapnel with his own body. When First Sergeant Kasal was offered medical attention and extraction, he refused until the other Marines were given medical attention. Although severely wounded himself, he shouted encouragement to his fellow Marines as they continued to clear the structure. By his bold leadership, wise judgment, and complete dedication to duty, First Sergeant Kasal reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Recovery
Due to the injuries, Kasal lost four inches of bone in his right leg. Kasal has undergone 21 surgeries to date in order to repair his injuries and save his leg. Kasal continues his recovery from his wounds.
SgtMaj Kasal's current assignment is as the sergeant major of Recruiting Station Des Moines, Iowa.
Notes
References
:"This article incorporates public domain text from the U.S. Department of Defense."
*cite news|accessdate=2006-05-06
author=Floto, Patrick J.
date=May 4, 2006
url=http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/lookupstoryref/200653191254
title=Wounded Marine in iconic Fallujah photo awarded Navy Cross
issue=Story ID #200653191254
work=Marine Corps News,
publisher=MCB Camp Pendleton
archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070826140817/http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/lookupstoryref/200653191254
archivedate=2007-08-26
*cite news|accessdate=2006-05-26
author=Floto, Patrick J.
date=May 9, 2006
url=http://www.defendamerica.mil/profiles/may2006/pr050906ms1.html
title=U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bradley Kasal: Wounded First Sergeant Awarded Navy Cross
work=Defend America
publisher=U.S. Department of Defense
*Gonzalez, Cindy. (February 13, 2005) "Omaha World Herald".
*Helms, Nathaniel R. (February 2, 2005) [http://www.sftt.us/cgi-bin/csNews/csNews.cgi?database=DefenseWatch%202005.db&command=viewone&id=55 "From an Iowa Town to a Marine Corps Legend".] "DefenseWatch". (URL accessed May 3, 2006)
*Perry, Tony. (May 1, 2006). [http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-cross1may01,1,4646543.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california "Marine Hero to Be Decorated for His Bravery"] , "Los Angeles Times. (URL accessed May 6, 2006)
*Shapiro, Joseph. (March 8, 2005) [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4525928 "Caring for the Wounded: The Story of Two Marines."] "NPR Morning Edition." (URL accessed May 3, 2006)
External links
*cite web|accessdate=2006-05-06
url=http://marinecorpsmoms.com/archives/cat_news_from_the_front.html
title=SgtMaj Brad Kasal - An American Hero
work=News from the Front
date=May 2, 2006
Persondata
NAME = Kasal, Bradley
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Major, Navy Cross recipient for Operation Phantom Fury
DATE OF BIRTH = 1966
PLACE OF BIRTH = Marengo, IowaGlasgow, Scotland
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =
