 Maj.
Mark Slusher is one of many advisors
that serve among battalions,
brigades and divisions of the Iraqi
military. He trained, lived, ate and
became brothers-in arms with them.
Slusher, along with the three-week
Basra Campaign, showed just one
example of how that developed
relationship can influence the
growing Iraqi military.
The Lebanon, N.J. native was awarded
a Bronze Star Medal with a combat
distinguishing device, Jan. 12, 2009
for heroic achievement in connection
with combat operations against
insurgency in the city of Basra that
contributed to the success of Iraqi
forces in the region.
Slusher served as team leader for
Military Transition Team 111 of 1st
Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Iraqi
Army Division from Aug. 22, 2007 to
Aug. 17, 2008. During this time, he
simultaneously advised the Iraqi
Army battalion commander and led his
15-man MTT through combat operations
that cleared multiple insurgent
strongholds and weapons cache sites
throughout the city, according to
Slusher's award citation.
“Its fire in the belly courage and
leadership,” said Brig. Gen. Juan G.
Ayala, commanding general of 2nd MLG.
“It's because of American advisors
putting their lives on the line that
the Iraqi Army is on its feet.”
Ayala, having served
as senior advisor to the 1st Iraqi
Army Division the year prior to
Slusher's tour, said the efforts of
American military members make this
a very significant time in U.S. and
Iraqi history.Ayala went on to say
Slusher's efforts epitomize military advisors and show how
much of an impact they can have.
Lt. Col. Chuck Western, who
served with Slusher as the
brigade MTT leader, said Basra
was a dangerous place at the
time they were there. Slusher's
team and the Iraqi battalion
were bombarded by continuous
mortar and small arms fire in
the early days of the campaign.
According to his award, Slusher
repeatedly exposed himself to
enemy fire in order to direct
his team's defensive actions and
advise the Iraqi battalion
commander in combat.
“Mark was able to convince the
Iraqi battalion commander to
stay in the area where he was
at,” Western said. “He stayed
there shoulder-to-shoulder with
the battalion commander. He gave
him time to get over his
concerns and become a combat
commander.”
This same quick action and
presence of mind was displayed
while elements of the MTT were
exiting the Basra city limits,
after conducting a combat
patrol. One of the transition
team's vehicles was attacked by
an explosively formed
penetrator, which is an
improvised explosive device
commonly used to penetrate armor
at stand-off distances. The
device destroyed the vehicles
and wounded all five members
inside.
Slusher immediately retrieved
the injured personnel from the
burning vehicle while under
steady small arms fire, and
moved them to a covered position
to administer first aid. His
citation said his actions
resulted in a successful air and
ground casualty evacuation of
the injured Marines.
“We operate there alone and
unafraid,” Slusher said,
speaking of how a MTT functions.
“Everyone knew their roles and I
was truly blessed with the men I
had on my team. It's great to
know we were able to positively
influence what happened in Basra
and the rest of the country.”
Excerpt from
article by Cpl. Aaron Rooks,
Marine Corps News, January 12,
2009
Photo and information courtesy of the US Marine
Corps / DoD |
