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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Mar 17, 2010 - 6:39:30 PM |
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| BAGHDAD, Iraq - An Iraqi National Policeman salutes National Police Col. Darfur, left, and Maj. James Gant, right, after both leaders received awards during a ceremony at the Iraqi National Police Headquarters in Baghdad Thursday, May 3, 2007. Gant received the Silver Star and National Police Medal of Honor, while Darfur received the National Police Medal of Honor, for actions in Balad on Dec. 11, 2006. The two leaders are credited with saving many lives during an ambush, and both were awarded for bravery. (USMC photo by Sgt. Jessica Kent, MNC-I Public Affairs)BAGHDAD, Iraq - An Iraqi National Policeman salutes National Police Col. Darfur, left, and Maj. James Gant, right, after both leaders received awards during a ceremony at the Iraqi National Police Headquarters in Baghdad Thursday, May 3, 2007. Gant received the Silver Star and National Police Medal of Honor, while Darfur received the National Police Medal of Honor, for actions in Balad on Dec. 11, 2006. The two leaders are credited with saving many lives during an ambush, and both were awarded for bravery. (USMC photo by Sgt. Jessica Kent, MNC-I Public Affairs) |
Blackanthem Military News, BALAD, Iraq - During an ambush in Balad on Dec. 11, 2006, the Army’s newest Silver Star recipient intentionally ran over and detonated one hoax and two live IEDs in order to protect others.
When his joint patrol of U.S. Soldiers and Iraqi national policemen needed a landing zone to evacuate the wounded, Maj. Jim Gant did what he had to do in order to secure it. Gant, assistant team chief of the National Police QRF Battalion Transition Team, rescued American transition team members and an Iraqi interpreter while coordinating direct fire to suppress the enemy. He treated wounded Iraqi policemen while under ambush repeatedly exposing himself to enemy fire.
“(Gant) knowingly did this to reduce the threat to fellow warriors,” said Col. Chipper Lewis, who presented the Silver Star during an awards ceremony May 3.
Gant was not alone in displaying valor during the ambush. His comrade, Col. Dhafir, a police officer with the Iraqi National Police Quick Reaction Force Battalion, fought beside Gant and pulled him out of a burning up-armored vehicle.
Thanks to Gant and Dhafir, no lives were lost during the complex ambush.
Both Soldiers were awarded the Iraqi National Police Medal of Honor during the ceremony at the National Police Headquarters in Baghdad.
“Unless you were there that day, you could not believe it, so I will not speak about it,” Gant said. “This is the 18th award for valor that I or men I have led have won over the past five years. I have known some great men, and many are here today. I hope someone remembers them and the sacrifices made by them.”
In his acceptance speech, Gant said that if U.S. troops were pulled out of the fight, all the sacrifices made in Iraq would have been for nothing. He urged leaders to stay the course and allow troops to work with Iraqis to protect innocent men, women and children.
“My best friend in all the world is an Iraqi,” Gant said. “(Dhafir) is the best man I’ve ever know. He shared as much bravery and courage as I did that day, but he can’t go home after a hard day’s work. He can’t see his father or mother or brothers and he can’t live any type of normal life because any time he leaves here, people want to kill him.”
As Gant and Dhafir continue the fight for freedom, they hope their children will not have to fight the war in the future.
“Let’s finish what we started,” Gant said. “We, both Iraqi and American, have to do it together. Neither of us can do it by ourselves.”
ADDITIONAL PHOTO:
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| USMC photo by Sgt. Jessica Kent, MNC-I Public Affairs |
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