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Small-arms fire rained down on the men of Company F,
2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines. Both Iraqi civilians and Marines were
injured. Pinned down, with the injured needing assistance, Sgt.
Scott C. Montoya rushed through enemy fire while "repeatedly
exposing himself to fire-swept streets," according to his Navy Cross
award citation.
Montoya received the U.S. military's second-highest award at Camp
Pendleton for heroism stemming from his actions on April 8, 2003,
two weeks into Operation Iraqi Freedom.
With his firearm in one hand engaging the enemy and a badly bleeding
Marine in the other, he fought their way 500 yards to safety. He
returned to the cross-fire again and dragged another - who'd been
dazed by the concussion of a grenade blast - to a casualty
collection point. In all, he rescued four injured Marines and one
Iraqi civilian out of harm's way, according to his citation.
Montoya's "extraordinary heroism" arose out of the battle for
Baghdad.
Montoya described it this way:
"I saw a hurt Marine and all my training came into play. It wasn't a
cognitive thing; I just saw the situation and cared for my Marines."
Sgt. Jose N. Sanchez, a supply clerk with 2/23, has
known Montoya for six years
and wasn't surprised when he
heard the news. |
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"The level he went - it's
above and beyond the call of
anyone, even a Marine,"
Sanchez said, adding: "What
matters to him are his
Marines, not the awards or
the actions he took."
Montoya received the award
in front of family, friends
and the men of his unit.
Orange County Sheriff
Michael S. Carona was also
present.
A deputy sheriff in Orange
County, Montoya drew praise
from many of his co-workers
- including Carona.
"He is a complete warrior,"
Carona said.
"Whether as a Marine or as a
law enforcement figure, he
is always putting the
community or the country
above his own personal
safety."
Carona alluded to Montoya's
rapid response under fire.
"These things happen in the
blink of a second, and an
individual has to decide to
be a hero or not. He decided
to be one."
In the end, Montoya said,
“It's just a medal.”
"Service before self is
something I teach in the
Marine Corps Martial Arts
Program," continued Montoya,
a MCMAP instructor for his
unit. "I feel the award
represents the character of
the Corps."
Col. Geffery L. Cooper, the
battalion's commanding
officer during Operation
Iraqi Freedom, said
Montoya's award was
well-deserved.
"It means a great deal to me
that the Corps can recognize
such Marines of valor in
combat,” said Cooper.
(Montoya) is a man of
integrity and leadership,
and his loyalty is
unquestionable. He is a
great example and advocate
for all reservists.”
Excerpts
from article written by
Lance Cpl. Daniel J.
Redding, The Scout, MCB Camp
Pendleton |
