Medic Took Bullets, Shrapnel To Rescue Wounded In Attack (Awarded Silver Star)

Clarksville (TN) Leaf-Chronicle | February 6, 2004 | By Chantal Escoto

[mark502inf]

502nd soldier has division's first Iraq war Silver Star

Pvt. Dwayne Turner doesn't think he's a hero. But the Army says otherwise and awarded him the Silver Star Thursday.

The medic with Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, saved the lives of 16 soldiers in Iraq on April 13 despite being critically wounded himself.

In a ceremony at Fort Campbell's division headquarters, Assistant Division Commander (operations) Brig. Gen. Frank G. Helmick pinned Turner with the highest medal given thus far to 101st Airborne Division soldiers serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"I didn't figure myself a hero. I just wanted to make sure everybody came home," Turner said after the medal and 101st Airborne coin were presented to him. "Nobody was going to die on my watch."

Before the firefight in a suburb about 30 miles south of Baghdad, the Iraqis near the U.S. convoy were being friendly as usual, Turner said. But the scene quickly turned violent, and the soldiers were attacked with grenade and small-arms fire.

Responding on instinct, Turner went into action and repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire as he treated wounded soldiers. He was struck by AK-47 bullets in the arm and leg and was hit by shrapnel.

"When we got hit, guys were going down, and I was the medical guy on the scene. It was a split-second decision," he said.

During the 25-minute attack, Turner tended to the wounded until he finally had to be stopped. He was about to pass out from blood loss, said platoon leader Sgt. Neil Mulvany, who treated Turner's injuries.

"He risked his life to save 16 other soldiers," Mulvany said. "That's a hero in my book."

Of the 50 soldiers in the convoy, 22 were wounded.

Turner has served in the Army for four years and returned to Fort Campbell from Iraq in May. He will be medically discharged from the Army soon.

The Silver Star is awarded to any U.S. service member who shows gallantry in action. It is the third-highest combat medal given to soldiers.

[mark502inf]

Assistant Division Commander presents 101st's first Iraq Silver Star to Private Turner.

Of the 50 soldiers in the convoy, 22 were wounded.

44% casualty rate--pretty intense.

[Xenalyte]

Salute and prayers and BIG THANKS headed Turner's way!

[mattdono]

Private Turner, I salute you.

[Liberty Valance]

Salute to Pvt. Turner. Salute to all medics.

[MEG33]

Wow,terrible losses and a very brave Private Turner.He is a hero!

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks Mark!

[RAY]

God bless him, and may his future be bright!

[A Texan]

Wow. That is a true American hero.

[kayak]

As has been said before ... Where do we get men like this!

[mark502inf]

Your Iraq list might appreciate this story about an American hero.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Kudos to a brave Amercian - how do we keep coming up with these outstanding men and women?

[ArrogantBustard]

Big snappy salute to PVT Turner, a fine example of what America is all about.

[gridlock]

Of the 50 soldiers in the convoy, 22 were wounded.

And none died. Good work Private Turner. This award is well deserved.

[OldFriend]

There are those who exploit their service in war and then there are HEROES......such as this young man who honored us all with his service to his fellow soldiers.

[NEPA]

I don't mean to take away from this guy's heroism but why is he only an E1? According to the article and the picture that's the case. If so he must have really f'ed up royally.
Glad to see he came through when he had to though. The guy is a genuine hero.

[mark502inf]

I don't mean to take away from this guy's heroism but why is he only an E1? According to the article and the picture that's the case. If so he must have really f'ed up royally. Glad to see he came through when he had to though. The guy is a genuine hero.

We used to call those kind of guys "field soldiers"---the men who were great out in the field or on operations, but always found a way to get in trouble back in garrison.

[Professional Engineer]

BUMP!

[r9etb]

From your screen name -- were/are you from the 502nd, as this guy is?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

What is the 101st Airborne coin ?

[SAMWolf]

Medic Bump

[mark502inf]

were/are you from the 502nd, as this guy is?

Were. Although I have a couple friends with them now. Particularly enjoyed when the 502d took down Uday & Qusay. The other unit I spent a lot of time with was the 22d Infantry--they were in on the capture of Saddam so I'm getting some vicarious thrills watching my old units taking it to the bad guys.

[mark502inf]

The 101st coin is given out by the unit commander to informally recognize a soldier who has done well. It is about the size of a silver dollar and is stamped with the 101st screaming eagle symbol. The theory is that once awarded, you should carry it at all times and, when challenged to show it, produce it or else buy a round, do some push-ups etc.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

In a ceremony at Fort Campbell's division headquarters, Assistant Division Commander (operations) Brig. Gen. Frank G. Helmick pinned Turner with the highest medal given thus far to 101st Airborne Division soldiers serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"I didn't figure myself a hero. I just wanted to make sure everybody came home," Turner said after the medal and 101st Airborne coin were presented to him. "Nobody was going to die on my watch."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you, Pvt. Dwayne Turner!

     3-502nd Infantry Regiment
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)

 Thank you., mark502inf. Great post.

[mark502inf]

Ragtime as usual, is on top of this--her post #23 has a photo of Private Turner holding his coin!

[Just mythoughts]

This young man is a "REAL" hero not JFKERRY, who pretends to be a "saviour".

[Alamo-Girl]

Buuump!

[ErnBatavia]

Wassup with him still being a Private after four years of service? Even in the picture, I can see he hasn't gotten a promotion...

[91B]

I honestly believe that he would've gotten a DSC in the past. I wonder if we'll ever see another living MOH winner.

[IDontLikeToPayTaxes]

The 101st coin is given out by the unit commander to informally recognize a soldier who has done well. It is about the size of a silver dollar and is stamped with the 101st screaming eagle symbol. The theory is that once awarded, you should carry it at all times and, when challenged to show it, produce it or else buy a round, do some push-ups etc.

There are also Brigade and Battalion coins, and coins for each branch and Regimental society, etc.

[IDontLikeToPayTaxes]

We used to call those kind of guys "field soldiers"---the men who were great out in the field or on operations, but always found a way to get in trouble back in garrison.

Seems like a decent enough guy. He must have done something to get busted back to E1. Heck the guy even has an EFMB badge. They dont just hand those things out.

[Prodigal Son]

He must have done something to get busted back to E1.

Yep. I was thinking the same thing. Air Assault Wings as well. No way is he still an E1 under normal circumstances. Don't suppose it matters though. He's got a Silver Star now.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thank you, Pvt. Dwayne Turner, for your service to this great country.

Thanks, kayak. Where, indeed, do we get men like this.

[colorado tanker]

Nice thread today and Pvt. Turner's story fits perfectly.

An Air Force pararescue jumper was awarded the Air Force Cross postumously; he died saving others in Afghanistan. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jdcunningham.htm

Medics are among the very best.

[Bluntpoint]

Maybe his shoes weren't shiny enough or his locker organized to the liking of his anal superiors.

Many a good solder is run off by all the "chicken sh#t" mid level nco and officers that are bureaucrats first and soldiers second.

[snippy_about_it]

I always remember the thread we did at the Foxhole on Airman William Pitsenbarger, what a remarkable young man he was. Reading about his ultimate sacrifice was so sad yet filled you with pride.

[colorado tanker]

Hi Snippy!

I remember that thread too. Whenever a medic stops to administer first aid to a wounded soldier or pull him out of the way, by definition he is going to a location where moments before there were bullets or shrapnel. That creates a pretty high probability that more could be on the way. My hats off to those guys.

There is a also an Expert Field Medic Badge. Here's an interesting story I found on Google of a guy who earned the Badge. In his test, 500 tried and 35 got the Badge. http://students.cec.wustl.edu/~prf1/efmb.html

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks ct. I'm just getting ready to leave work. When I get home I'm going to take your two links over to todays Combat Medic thread at the Foxhole and put them there, too!

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the reminder CT.

[colorado tanker]

Hi Sam! Snow stopped and the sun's out. My foxhole is drying off.

[Zeroisanumber]

This young man is a "REAL" hero not JFKERRY, who pretends to be a "saviour".

Dammit! Couldn't you have waited for 5 more posts? I just lost another round of the FR drinking game.

[Rule#] 5. In any non-political post, the most conservative player must take a drink if an attack is made on a Democrat before post #30.

Well, I suppose that it could be worse. I have to have 2 if it was before post 10, and three if the poster had bashed a Democrat in the opening post.

[mark502inf]

I honestly believe that he would've gotten a DSC in the past. I wonder if we'll ever see another living MOH winner.

Of course, for Shugart & Gordon in 93, the medals were posthumous--the last MOH prior to that was Vietnam era--not sure who the last guy was who lived to actually receive it. Last I heard, there's one MOH recommendation working through the system for an engineer platoon sergeant. He was killed during the assault on Baghdad. He pretty much single-handedly held off an Iraqi counter-attack firing a .50 cal MG from his M113 until he was killed himself.

[cynicom]

Kerrys Silver Star somehow pales in comparison with the one EARNED by This young man.

[cynicom]

"Where do we get men like this?"

Time and circumstance, right place, right time, some men rise to the challenge. This young man did just that.

[OldEagle]

Doesn't it make you proud!

[Just mythoughts]

L O L

Soooooooo sorry! Not so sure the rule applies on this date about anything military, that is since JFKerry has made everything military political.

Chest full of medals

Saving 1 Republican

President Bush AWOL

E T C .....

I will T R Y to remember that rule!

[snippy_about_it]

Then how about you git your behind over to the Foxhole!

[SAMWolf]

Once the rain ends today we're supposed to get a nice spell of dry and warm.

[colorado tanker]

LOL! Sorry, Maam. I didn't mean to be AWOL from the unit. Can I make up the meetings I missed?

I've been reading up on how to be a war hero and the media seem to have a different idea than the Foxhole. Seems to have something to do with calling your fellow veterans war criminals and throwing your medals away.

[in the Arena]

Big Hero BTTT...