SgtMaj. Bradley Kasal
3rd Battalion, 1st Marines
Fallujah, Iraq, Nov. 13, 2004
Award: Navy Cross
In late 2004, then-1stSgt. Kasal was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. After 1stSgt. Kasal learned that Marines were pinned down inside the house by an unknown number of enemy personnel, he joined a squad making entry to clear the structure and rescue the Marines inside. He made entry into the first room, immediately encountering and eliminating an enemy insurgent, as he spotted a wounded Marine in the next room. While moving towards the wounded Marine, 1stSgt. Kasal and another Marine came under heavy rifle fire from an elevated enemy firing position and were both severely wounded in the legs, immobilizing them. When insurgents threw grenades in an attempt to eliminate the wounded Marines, he rolled on top of his fellow Marine and absorbed the shrapnel with his own body. When 1stSgt. Kasal was offered medical attention and extraction, he refused until the other Marines were given medical attention. Although severely wounded himself, he shouted encouragement to his fellow Marines as they continued to clear the structure. (AP photo by Lucian Reed)
Sgt.Maj. Kasal – Ooorah! Stories like yours should be required reading for all marines. The bond between marines from all ranks from general to private is the stuff of legend. We leave no one behind. Your bravery and selflessness to protect your marines is exactly what we all hope and pray for when the shit hits the fan. A marines marine. Semper Fi.
Ditto, Kapena! OOORAH & Semper Fi!!!
Now that’s one badass Marine semper Fi
THATS WHAT WE DO,
SEMPER FI
Hey Ski – I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately, as the Docs diagnosed emphysema/COPD last year even though I quite smoking 20 years ago. I needed a bookmark, so I grabbed something that was handy and it happened to be your card. You had given it to me at the first 2/9 Network Reunion that I attended in 2015. So, it’s getting good use. Hope we will be able to meet this year, and that I can attend. Thanks to you and Danny for everything you do. Semper Fi!!!
That’s a Marines Marine right there folks! I remember this from the news. OOHRAH Marine, God bless you!
SEMPER FI…was in Lima 3rd Battalion 1 st Marines 1965 and 1966. From one grunt to another, OORAH… Sgt.Mike Smith…..
Semper -Fi Devil dog
Outstanding. And a great book.
It makes me proud to serve with 3/1, 1967, 68 Nam. Special Landing Force Bravo.
Some fierce fighting along the Cua Viet River to Dong Ha.
Semper Fi SgtMag. Seems your action could/should have warranted the awarding of the MOH. SSgt McCleery
I totally agree with you Geary. Once in a while, as the years go by, some of these are upgraded to MOH. God bless him!!
I agree!!! His actions were above and beyond the call of duty.
This Marine is worthy of being upgraded to the Medal of Honor!!! I thought it then and I still think it.
semper fi! the best to all my sister and brother Marine warriors. H&SCo.,3dBtn.,9thMarines,3dMarDiv., RVN 03/1967-04/1968.
Can’t remember ever meeting a Marine MOH that said, “It should have been….”. To me it just makes them that much more of a hero. Semper Fi SgtMaj.
I remember hearing about this. Just wow. And I’ve always wondered if he would have rather had a 1911 when he stepped into that room.
SGT MAJOR Kasal,it’s leaderships like yours that keeps the Marine Corps strong. God bless you and God bless the CORPS! Semper Fi
If that doesn’t motivate, nothing will. Semper Fi!
Tremendous courage and warrior ethos. Semper Fi Respectfully submitted Cpl. M.L.Orona
G co. 2/1 80-84