WEBVTT 00:06.451 --> 00:09.275 - I was upgraded from a Bronze Star 00:09.275 --> 00:10.692 to a Silver Star. 00:10.811 --> 00:13.228 For actions in Fallujah 2004. 00:15.445 --> 00:16.851 Everybody I served with 00:16.851 --> 00:19.268 at the time that I was there, 00:19.739 --> 00:23.406 the Marines, a lot of memories brought back. 00:24.993 --> 00:27.961 I think it means that the armed services 00:27.961 --> 00:31.711 and the top leaders of our Defense Department 00:32.351 --> 00:35.518 are really taking care of our Marines. 00:35.640 --> 00:38.258 Always look to your left and right 00:38.258 --> 00:40.341 and you'll figure out why 00:40.569 --> 00:41.569 you're where you're at, 00:41.569 --> 00:43.236 at the time you are. 00:43.784 --> 00:47.034 It really don't mean a whole lot to me, 00:47.040 --> 00:49.688 I think it means more for other people 00:49.688 --> 00:51.271 than it does to me. 00:51.302 --> 00:54.219 'Cause I mean all I did was my job. 00:54.849 --> 00:55.698 But I do wanna thank 00:55.698 --> 00:57.545 all the service members 00:57.545 --> 00:59.212 I was with that day. 01:00.386 --> 01:02.273 Victor One Eight Weapons Company, 01:02.273 --> 01:04.690 I'll never forget any of 'em. 01:07.368 --> 01:08.201 - To be honest, 01:08.201 --> 01:10.024 when I got the phone call last Friday, 01:10.024 --> 01:12.321 I thought it was an elaborate attempt 01:12.321 --> 01:15.175 to get my credit card and banking information. 01:15.175 --> 01:16.991 I still kinda think it is, 01:16.991 --> 01:18.991 but yeah, I was shocked. 01:19.711 --> 01:20.743 I had read that they were doing 01:20.743 --> 01:23.399 the upgrades, or doing the reviews. 01:23.399 --> 01:24.711 I just kinda thought that it was 01:24.711 --> 01:26.527 the Navy Cross, the Medal of Honor. 01:26.527 --> 01:28.398 So, I never expected it 01:28.398 --> 01:30.648 and honestly it's an honor. 01:30.804 --> 01:32.093 And just listening to 01:32.093 --> 01:33.926 the citations read for 01:36.124 --> 01:37.805 the other recipients, man, it was just 01:37.805 --> 01:40.189 more of an honor to be standing next to 'em. 01:40.189 --> 01:42.606 I think just the whole awards 01:42.758 --> 01:44.341 process in general, 01:46.180 --> 01:48.083 we don't do these things 01:48.083 --> 01:49.916 for rewards or awards. 01:52.230 --> 01:54.429 Personally I feel most Marines feel, 01:54.429 --> 01:57.262 it's like, you do whatever you can 01:57.829 --> 01:59.045 to help the guys to your left 01:59.045 --> 02:00.205 and to your right. 02:00.205 --> 02:02.538 We are that band of brothers 02:02.742 --> 02:04.742 and I think this is just 02:05.599 --> 02:07.366 the recognition of it. 02:07.366 --> 02:09.323 It is an honor and it's something 02:09.323 --> 02:11.074 not to be taken lightly. 02:11.074 --> 02:12.980 And I think what it does 02:12.980 --> 02:14.290 is once you've received it 02:14.290 --> 02:15.707 you kinda have to 02:16.083 --> 02:17.444 look at it as a responsibility, 02:17.444 --> 02:19.147 sorta live up to those 02:19.147 --> 02:20.517 others before you. 02:20.517 --> 02:22.352 The Vietnam veterans, the Korean veterans, 02:22.352 --> 02:23.585 the World War Two veterans. 02:23.585 --> 02:25.600 And the guys who had come before you 02:25.600 --> 02:26.816 and you have to be an example 02:26.816 --> 02:28.272 for the rest of the country. 02:28.272 --> 02:31.605 To show that, this is what we should be. 02:32.569 --> 02:35.577 You have to be that example to everyone else. 02:35.577 --> 02:38.660 I don't know man, just keep fighting, 02:39.598 --> 02:41.084 stay strong in the Corps. 02:41.084 --> 02:45.001 And, this is the greatest country in the world. 02:46.080 --> 02:48.329 We have our issues, of course, 02:48.329 --> 02:49.351 like every country does. 02:49.351 --> 02:50.343 But I honestly believe this is 02:50.343 --> 02:51.504 the greatest country in the world. 02:51.504 --> 02:52.414 And I would absolutely lay 02:52.414 --> 02:54.914 down my life for this country. 03:01.340 --> 03:02.719 - I guess it's not really my feelings, 03:02.719 --> 03:04.719 I really appreciate that 03:04.846 --> 03:05.958 it was reconsidered. 03:05.958 --> 03:08.007 Because, like I said earlier, 03:08.007 --> 03:09.924 that the actions of not 03:10.174 --> 03:12.390 just myself, but the men in my platoon, 03:12.390 --> 03:13.973 the men on my team. 03:14.944 --> 03:15.975 Were not forgotten. 03:15.975 --> 03:18.351 So, the actions of them and myself 03:18.351 --> 03:21.184 are still not forgotten from 2004. 03:22.470 --> 03:25.775 I had a ton of emotions going through me. 03:25.775 --> 03:28.022 Whether it was seen it or not, 03:28.022 --> 03:30.296 but I was just recounting the day, 03:30.296 --> 03:32.546 that same day that was from 03:32.839 --> 03:34.375 April seventh, 2004. 03:34.375 --> 03:36.125 Mixed mixed emotions. 03:38.103 --> 03:40.474 There are Marines that are struggling, 03:40.474 --> 03:42.224 I can attest to that. 03:43.176 --> 03:45.305 That it's okay to reach out, to help. 03:45.305 --> 03:46.401 It may not be a family member. 03:46.401 --> 03:48.546 But there are other family members 03:48.546 --> 03:49.505 such as Marines. 03:49.505 --> 03:51.312 Your brotherhood, that is your family. 03:51.312 --> 03:53.009 If you're afraid to reach out 03:53.009 --> 03:54.092 to even them. 03:54.593 --> 03:56.112 There's other organisations out there. 03:56.112 --> 03:58.224 I'm a big fan of the Semper Fi Fund. 03:58.224 --> 04:00.537 Why they're important to me? 04:00.537 --> 04:02.752 Is because there's a brotherhood there. 04:02.752 --> 04:05.072 We all could relate to each other. 04:05.072 --> 04:06.200 And if it's not Semper Fi Fund, 04:06.200 --> 04:07.904 there's other organisations out there 04:07.904 --> 04:09.577 that they should reach out 04:09.577 --> 04:10.753 before it gets too late. 04:10.753 --> 04:12.836 It's another special day, 04:13.033 --> 04:15.533 it means that the Marine Corps 04:15.928 --> 04:17.072 reached right back out to me, 04:17.072 --> 04:17.952 so it's still is family, 04:17.952 --> 04:18.848 still is a brotherhood. 04:18.848 --> 04:20.331 I got to bring my son out here, 04:20.331 --> 04:21.666 to experience this day. 04:21.666 --> 04:23.185 I wish my wife could have been here today, 04:23.185 --> 04:25.851 but work gets in the way of things. 04:25.851 --> 04:28.681 I got to see some of my other brothers, 04:28.681 --> 04:30.764 Eddie Wright, Mike Busic, 04:31.633 --> 04:32.532 some of these guys at, 04:32.532 --> 04:34.782 Joe Chamblin, Joe Thornton, 04:35.370 --> 04:36.203 these are all Marines 04:36.203 --> 04:37.354 that I've served with 04:37.354 --> 04:38.187 and they all took the time 04:38.187 --> 04:39.020 to come out today, 04:39.020 --> 04:39.884 out of their busy schedule. 04:39.884 --> 04:40.717 They came from far, 04:40.717 --> 04:42.384 they came from near. 04:47.286 --> 04:48.119 - It's very humbling, 04:48.119 --> 04:49.068 Secretary of the Navy, 04:49.068 --> 04:50.036 is a good man. 04:50.036 --> 04:52.453 And it was an honor to meet him. 04:52.453 --> 04:55.871 And to have it upgraded is kinda surprise. 04:55.871 --> 04:57.538 And yeah, very nice. 04:58.317 --> 05:00.149 What was going through my head? 05:00.149 --> 05:02.030 Was, just the people I was with. 05:02.030 --> 05:03.229 First Platoon, Dog Company, 05:03.229 --> 05:06.102 and First Battalion Seventh Marines. 05:06.102 --> 05:07.769 Everybody was there. 05:08.214 --> 05:10.102 That's what I was thinking about. 05:10.102 --> 05:10.935 I think it's something 05:10.935 --> 05:12.414 that Marines do everyday. 05:12.414 --> 05:14.081 I mean, the Marines, 05:14.854 --> 05:17.393 are one of the most noble organisations, 05:17.393 --> 05:18.537 because they are based 05:18.537 --> 05:20.620 off of altruistic values. 05:21.418 --> 05:23.251 The Marines are truly, 05:23.330 --> 05:25.663 seek to safeguard the people 05:25.961 --> 05:27.466 to their left and their right. 05:27.466 --> 05:30.268 That is the mission, it's in the Marines 05:30.268 --> 05:32.101 and it's in our creed. 05:36.260 --> 05:37.532 Yeah, I think the people 05:37.532 --> 05:38.547 that I was with, 05:38.547 --> 05:41.269 is the best people that there is. 05:41.269 --> 05:45.436 And it's not to say, but that's everybody in the Marines. 05:45.724 --> 05:46.892 You know each battalion, 05:46.892 --> 05:48.142 and each group. 05:48.643 --> 05:51.355 Is all the, we're the same, because of the training 05:51.355 --> 05:55.522 that we go through and the legacy that gets passed down. 05:58.262 --> 05:59.149 And that's what Marines do, 05:59.149 --> 06:00.190 I mean they just uphold the traditions 06:00.190 --> 06:04.107 that are passed down from previous generations. 06:05.822 --> 06:09.989 And those values are instilled and so the last words is, 06:10.917 --> 06:13.613 yeah, just grateful to be a part of an organisation 06:13.613 --> 06:16.275 that puts others before their selves.