热度 4||
9月20日对大多美国人来说就是一个非常平常的周五,入秋的季节,天高气爽,海风吹过,温温凉沁,掠去了南加州圣地亚哥的燥热。近千人,包括一群记者,聚集在圣地亚哥的美国海军陆战队新兵训练营内,举行一个非常不寻常的仪式。
授勋
演讲
Marine Corps Recruit Depot - Brig. Gen. Chip W. Bierman, commanding general of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and Western Recruiting Region, awards Robert T. Moffatt the Bronze Star medal with combat distinguishing device during a morning colors ceremony aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Sept. 20. While serving as an assistant machine gunner with Company M, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, during the First Battle of Khe Sanh on April 30, 1967, Moffatt’s company was attacked by a numerically superior enemy force. When Moffatt’s machine gunner was mortally wounded, he unhesitatingly took charge of the machine-gun and continued engaging the enemy with suppressive fire. He exposed himself continuously to extreme danger knowing his Marines needed his protective fire to sustain their counterattack. During the attack Moffatt sustained severe head wounds, however, his disregard for his own safety saved the lives of his fellow Marines. “We were just young Marines defending our country,” said Moffatt, who currently resides in Riverside, Calif. “We were doing whatever it required to save each other’s lives, including giving our own. Once a Marine, Always a Marine.”
同一个仪式上,原机枪手Robert T. Moffatt被授予铜星勋章,同样是在溪山战役中,Robert身边的机枪手身受重伤,Robert毫不犹豫地拿过机枪射击以压制对方的火力,而他自己却暴露在对方的火力之下,造成脑部受伤,后来在医院里接受了多年的康复治疗。他在授勋仪式的讲演中详细的讲述了那场战斗的经过,多次落泪,也让在场的所有人为之动容,他说:“我是1965年在这里受训的,当时我不喜欢这里,我们就是一群年轻的海军陆战队员,为了国家,我们出生入死,Joe, 感谢你和我的海军陆战队友们,是你们把我从战场上救下来,没有你们,我今天不会站在这里。现在看看这个兵营,感觉还是不错的,我要对今天即将毕业的新一代海军陆战队队员们说,我们每一个人都会不惜一切代价来掩护我们队友的生命,甚至不惜牺牲自己的生命,Once a Marine, Always a Marine.”
授勋
演讲
老兵
军官
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