Lt. Col. Peter J. Keating, commanding officer, 1st Battalion, 10th Marines, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, presents a shadow box to 1st Lt. Raymond G. Baronie in a ceremony in Harmarville, PA.
Photo by: Sgt. Thomas O. Lantz
Posted on 05/17/2006 4:42:29 PM PDT by SandRat
MARINE CORPS RECRUITING STATION PITTSBURGH (May 17, 2006) -- In a recent ceremony held in a room full of friends, family, and members of his former Camp Lejeune, North Carolina-based Marine unit, 1st Lt. Raymond G. Baronie, was honored with a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, with combat “V” for Valor, for his courageous actions while deployed to Iraq.
Baronie, a native of Lower Burrell, PA and 2002 graduate of Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA, served in Iraq with the Marine Corps’ 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force as a liaison officer between the newly created Iraqi Security Forces and the Marines. He oversaw the training of, and provided guidance to new members of the Iraqi Security Forces, and often assisted with critical supply support within his Marine unit.
According to command members, Baronie could have taken a much safer route to the end of his deployment.
Instead, he regularly placed himself in harms way to better understand how he could more effectively, and efficiently make a difference in Iraq.
In early December 2005 the same drive that had earned him the respect of his subordinates and supervisors alike put him in harms way. While conducting a volunteer mission through one of the worst parts of Iraq, Baronie’s convoy, including the vehicle he was in came under fire. “I call it my bad day,” Baronie said with a smile. Baronie’s vehicle was hit with a 57 mm rocket.
The entire room knew of the dangerous places Baronie had visited, and the heroic actions he had grown comfortable with to the point of them being commonplace. Instead of soaking up the spotlight, Baronie quickly shifted his much deserved recognition to another Marine in attendance; Sgt. Delwin T. Davis. “I just know I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the actions of Sgt. Davis.” Davis was responsible for helping Baronie out of a burning vehicle.
Baronie later shifted the room’s attention to his former command. “They could have just as easily put this award in the mail. [For me] It’s unfathomable for a company commander to make this kind of trip; hundreds of miles away from base,” said a humbled Baronie. He then concluded the ceremony by issuing a round of by-name thanks to everyone in attendance and finished with a heart-felt thanks to his father that barely left a dry eye in the room. When asked why the Marines of 1st Battalion, 10th Marines chose such an unorthodox, and meaningful method of thanking one of their Marines, the Commanding Officer replied, “That’s just what we do. As Marines we take care of our own.” “We never thought about not [coming to Pennsylvania]. As part of the Marine family, we are always here for our wounded, said Lt. Col. Peter J. Keating, commanding officer, 1st Battalion, 10th Marines, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force.
“And most of all, because we still look at him as one of our own,” said Keating.
Baronie’s love for the Corps is still strong. “I love the Marine Corps and all that it embodies. And I can’t thank [my command] enough for visiting me all the way up here in Western Pennsylvania.”
Recovering wounded Keystone State Marine.
Great now Murtha's trying to out Kerry Kerry. Anybody filed those ethics charges on his sorry ass yet?
BTTT
Thanks
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