Spc. Anthony Tonasket (right), a native of Kansas City, Kan., is awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge and Army Commendation Medal with a ‘V’ device for Valor by Col. James Trafton, commander, 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, 38th Divisional Support Command, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, during an awards ceremony for his actions during an attack on his convoy March 7. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Richard Phelps, 2nd Bn, 137th Inf. Regt. UPAR, 38th DISCOM, MND-B.
For Spc. Anthony Tonasket, a mechanic with the 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, 38th Divisional Support Command, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, March 7 is a day that will always live in his memory.
While serving as a gunner on a routine combat patrol around Baghdad, Spc. Anthony Tonasket, a mechanic with the 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, 38th Divisional Support Command, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, an improvised explosive device detonated near the vehicle he was riding in. “The IED was buried in the berm to the left (side of the) road and was detonated not too far away from our location,” said Tonasket, a native of Kansas City, Kan.
The impact and initial blast blew Tonasket’s safety glasses and earplugs off and hit with enough power to force open his individual body armor.
“When it went off, everything went blank,” said Tonasket. “My eyes were open, but all I could see was dirt and dust. At that point, I remember thinking my chest felt light. I thought I had been injured but realized it was because my IBA was open.”
After “coughing his lungs out” from the gases in the air, Tonasket said he collapsed in the turret seat.
“I don’t remember how long I was down, but it could only have been two or three minutes,” he said.
Realizing the next several minutes were critical, Tonasket said he pulled himself together - mentally, physically and emotionally.
“I knew I needed to man my weapon and maintain my sector of fire,” he said.
The vehicle he was riding in was damaged, with both rear tires flat, the trunk blown off and pieces of the driver’s side armor missing.
Despite this, the convoy continued and Tonasket said he remained alert, scanning his sector and providing spot reports as the convoy moved into Camp Slayer. Upon arrival at the entry control point, the first thing he did was clear his weapon to ensure the safety of others.
“When I heard over the radio that one of my patrols had been hit with an IED, I rushed to the ECP to meet them,” said Capt. Richard Eaton, Tonasket’s company commander. “I had no idea what to expect, and as the gate to the ECP opened, I saw a M-1114 coming in at a high rate of speed. The M-1114 was fishtailing and the rear doors were flopping open because of the damage caused by the bomb.
“Amazingly, Spc. Tonasket was still manning his weapon. I had to order him down out of the turret,” said Eaton. “His hearing was gone and he was yelling - not yelling about injuries or the damage to his truck (but) about how we needed to get back out there and find them (the terrorists).
Before receiving medical attention, Tonasket sought reassurance about the safety of the other Soldiers on the patrol, displaying his loyalty and dedication to fellow Soldiers, said Eaton.
“This is exactly what an infantry company commander wants to see from his 11Bs (infantrymen), the only difference being that Tony is a mechanic - not just your everyday - Jiffy Lube guy’ ... he is a Soldier.”
“I did what I was trained to do,” Tonasket explained. “I live, eat and work with some of these guys. I may not know them, and they may not know me, but no one was going to be hurt because I didn’t do my job.”
By maintaining his bearing under fire, Tonasket likely prevented his patrol from being subject to a secondary attack and possible casualties, Eaton said.
For his actions, Tonasket was recently awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge and Army Commendation Medal with a - V’ device for Valor.
“Spc. Tonasket is the kind of person that we should all strive to be - totally selfless, hard working and willing to risk everything for the person next to him. I’m a better person for having known him,” concluded Eaton.