United States Marine Corps Capt. Brent Morel, a 1994 graduate of Bartlett High School who was killed in Iraq on April 7 last year, will posthumously be awarded the Navy Cross for Valor in recognition of his heroism in the last minutes of his life. His family was officially notified on April 8, exactly one year to the day they learned of his death. The ceremony will be held on May 21 at the Marine Corps Reserve Center in Memphis.
The Navy Cross is the second highest award the Navy and Marine Corps bestows, and to warrant this distinction the recipient must risk their life in combat “so extraordinarily as to set this person apart from his contemporaries.”
…Here are some excerpts from his narrative:
The ambush was initiated with a tremendous volley of RPGs, mortars, and automatic fire from at least ten machine gun positions.
(Capt. Morel) quickly leapt out of his own disabled vehicle, gathered five Marines from the wreckage of vehicles on the road (including one Marine whose only weapon was a pistol since his SAW was broken after being shot out of his hands) and led a determined assault through a relentless hail of automatic weapons, RPG, and mortar fire into the heart of the enemy’s ambush.
With enemy rounds and explosions whipping around him, he leapt over the final berm and across a small access road with complete disregard for his own safety in order to continue the assault and break up the enemy’s attack. This prompt and courageous action surprised the enemy and stalled the momentum of the ambush long enough for the six Marines injured in the lead vehicle to move to relative safety out of the kill zone. Captain Morel’s selfless act undoubtedly enabled this team to break contact, thus saving their lives. During this valiant effort, a withering burst of enemy automatic weapons fire mortally wounded him from five feet away.
Captain Morel’s extraordinary heroism, indomitable leadership, selfless devotion to duty, and bold fighting spirit inspired his men despite the numerical superiority of a fanatical enemy, reflecting great credit upon himself, and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service.
Rest in peace, Captain Morel. And Semper Fi.
Previous War Heroes Threads - Brian Chontosh
Jason Dean Cunningham
Britt Slabinski
Justin D. Lehew
Mark E. Mitchell
John Chapman
Joseph B. Perez
Marco A. Martinez
Stephen Bass
Luis E. Fonseca Jr.
Rafael Peralta
Paul R. Smith - Medal of Honor
Scott C. Montoya
Willie L. Copeland III