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1/6 Marine awarded 2nd Bronze Star for actions
Marine Corps News ^ | Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel

Posted on 03/08/2006 4:58:59 PM PST by SandRat

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Mar. 8, 2006) -- The conference room was packed with Marine leaders with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment there to witness the battalion’s operations officer receive a Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in connection with combat operations.

Maj. Paul C. Merida, from Oakland, Calif., was awarded the medal for his achievements as the battalion’s operations officer in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from February to October 2005 in the Fallujah area of Iraq.

The 1994 graduate of the University of California-Davis initially planned and supervised the execution of a turnover with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines allowing the battalion to assume control of the area, a 300 square kilometer battle space, five days ahead of schedule.

Merida also balanced operational requirements and employed a wide range of resources, which included four Iraqi Security Force battalions and managed combat operations across their area of operation.

He established and planned the manning of four entry control points and one exit control point denying the enemy access into Fallujah.

The battalion conducted more than 4,050 cordon and searches, 17 battalion operations and captured over 450 suspected insurgents with his planning and supervision.

This was Merida’s second Bronze Star Medal, the first he received as a company commander in Afganistan. He explained the difference between the two awards.

“My first Bronze Star was awarded because of direct actions under fire as opposed to the actual planning of operations and command element,” he explained.

Now that Merida has four deployments under his belt, he is scheduled to leave for the Basic School in Quantico, Va., to continue spreading his knowledge of war fighting.

After receiving the award, Merida explained how it felt to be recognized for his achievements.

“This was definitely a huge honor to receive this award today and I won’t forget this,” he said as he shook hands with fellow leaders of the battalion.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; US: California; US: North Carolina; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 16; 2nd; afganistan; awarded; bronze; iraq; marine; star
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.- Maj. Paul C. Merida, from Oakland, Calif., is awarded his second Bronze Star Medal from Brig. Gen. Joseph J. McMenamin, assistant division commander, in a ceremony here. Merida was the operations officer of 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from February to October 2005. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel
1 posted on 03/08/2006 4:59:07 PM PST by SandRat
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To: 2LT Radix jr; 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; 80 Square Miles; A Ruckus of Dogs; acad1228; AirForceMom; ..

Marine Awarded 2nd Bronze Star


2 posted on 03/08/2006 4:59:55 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: SandRat

Awesome! Semper Fi, Major.


3 posted on 03/08/2006 5:12:24 PM PST by Denver Ditdat (Melting solder since 1975)
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To: SandRat

Thank you for your service, Marine.


4 posted on 03/08/2006 5:12:39 PM PST by SquirrelKing (Contrary to popular belief, America is not a democracy, it is a Chucktatorship.)
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To: SquirrelKing; cardinal4

One can't help but wonder: if John F'n Kerry won a Silver Star for killing one enemy combatant, shouldn't Major Merida at least be up for a Navy Cross?


5 posted on 03/08/2006 5:23:43 PM PST by Ax (balut! balut!)
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To: SandRat

Great Americans.


6 posted on 03/08/2006 5:38:43 PM PST by bentover
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To: SandRat
The 1994 graduate of the University of California-Davis initially planned and supervised the execution of a turnover with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines allowing the battalion to assume control of the area, a 300 square kilometer battle space, five days ahead of schedule.

Merida also balanced operational requirements and employed a wide range of resources, which included four Iraqi Security Force battalions and managed combat operations across their area of operation.

As a former Marine, I take exception to officers being awarded the Bronze Star Medal (even without a V device) for doing the administrative duties they were expected to do in an assigned billet. If they did a really exceptional executive-managerial job in their posting, it should be remarked upon in their periodic Fitness Report and that should be an adequate reward. It seems to me that too many officers are being awarded the Bronze Star medal as a way of getting their "ticket punched" viz Viet Nam. (/rant)

PS: Today, the 8th of March 2006, is the 41st Anniversary of the day the Ninth Marines Expeditionary Force landed in force at China Beach. Semper Fi, guys.

7 posted on 03/08/2006 6:13:30 PM PST by SamKeck
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To: SandRat

BTTT


8 posted on 03/09/2006 3:06:18 AM PST by E.G.C.
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To: SamKeck
Yep, I agree with you. Regs state that the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) cannot be awarded in a combat theater. Regs also state the Bronze Star can be awarded for valor or for meritorious service in a combat theater. I think the military should change the regs to allow the MSM to be awarded in a combat theater and leave the Bronze Star only for valor.
9 posted on 03/09/2006 6:33:48 AM PST by ops33 (Retired USAF Senior Master Sergeant)
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To: SamKeck
As a former Marine, I take exception to officers being awarded the Bronze Star Medal (even without a V device) for doing the administrative duties they were expected to do in an assigned billet.

Thank you. Same problem in the Army. I know far more people without the V than with.

10 posted on 03/09/2006 6:37:51 AM PST by HoustonCurmudgeon (Justice and "The Law" are not always the same thing.)
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To: HoustonCurmudgeon

Agree. But the major knows the difference and will let folks know.


11 posted on 03/09/2006 6:40:40 AM PST by jimfree (Freep and ye shall find.)
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