In Defense of America

You may be aware that Peter Martuneac (my oldest son, 20) is a Marine (Lcpl.) currently deployed in Afghanistan. See- In Defense of the United States of America. Peter is deployed with (3/4 Lima Company, 1st Platoon), which had a British journalist (John Cantlie) embedded with them for a few weeks in June/July. The journalist has published several stories about the Marines of 3/4 Lima.

On June 26 the reporter followed 1st platoon on a patrol when they suddenly came under fire from Taliban forces. The reporter took a number of pictures during the action, which lasted almost an hour. The picture at right is of Peter, who according to the journalist’s caption, ran through sustained Taliban fire coming to the aid of a wounded Marine. In the photo below Peter is calling in medivac while the medic attends to the wounded Marine.

The following link is to the reporter’s site with 35 photos from the Afghanistan. Peter appears in five of those pictures. See #’s 8, 9, 10, 14 and 18. Photographs

“Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don’t have that problem.” (Ronald Reagan, President of the United States; 1985)

“The United States Marine Corps, with its fiercely proud tradition of excellence in combat, its hallowed rituals, and its unbending code of honor, is part of the fabric of American myth.” (Thomas E. Ricks; Making the Corps, 1997)

Remember and pray for our Marines and soldiers in harm’s way fighting in defense of our nation and way of life.

Update (Feb. 2012): "For heroic achievement in the superior performance of his duties...in the dangerous green zone of the upper Gershak Valley, Afghanistan," Peter W. Martuneac was awarded the Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal (With Combat Distinguishing Device)