Juan Rubio
The citation accompanying his Silver Star Medal detailed how a
well-emplaced and determined enemy ambushed Rubio and members of
his team along the Euphrates River in a complex attack. As Rubio
and an assault element swept through the ambush site, insurgents
detonated an improvised explosive device. Rocket-propelled grenades
and machine gun and small-arms fire followed immediately after the
explosion, wounding three Marines.
Realizing the severity of the Marines' wounds, and bleeding
profusely from his own, Rubio low-crawled across open terrain,
exposing himself to enemy fire to provide triage. Simultaneously
taking care of three urgent surgical casualties, Rubio coached his
fellow Marines who were assisting other casualties as incoming
enemy fire intensified.
After stabilizing the wounded for casualty evacuation, Rubio
directed the platoon to provide covering fire as he and several
Marines began moving the casualties towards safety.
Without regard for his own life, he once again exposed himself to
the heavy and accurate enemy fire, moving the
Marines from the ambush site to the shoreline.
Rubio's Silver Star Medal elevates him to a distinctively
exceptional category of valor among Navy corpsmen since the
commencement of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Only
two others have been awarded the Silver Star, none have received
the Medal of Honor, and only one hero has been presented the Navy
Cross.
Rubio does not consider himself a hero, though.
While addressing the audience, he revealed who he believes are the
true heroes, mentioning his two sons by name and that of the
mortally wounded Marine lance corporal who shielded Rubio from 90
percent of the IED's
shrapnel during the engagement.
"When people ask me what it is like to be looked upon as a hero, I
don't see myself as such, because Joshua and Mathew and every son
and daughter who's out there and who has family members in Iraq,
they're the heroes," he acknowledged while fighting back emotion.
"They're the ones who sacrifice their fathers and their mothers.
That takes honor, courage and bravery to go home every night and
pray that their fathers and mothers come home safe.
"And Brian Parrillo, this is for you, brother," he said. "Thank
you for bringing me home.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, May 1, 2006 -U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd
Class Juan M. Rubio, 32, of San Angelo, Texas, was awarded the
Silver Star Medal April 27 for conspicuous gallantry against the
enemy Jan. 1, 2005, while serving as a Marine platoon corpsman in
support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The Silver Star Medal is the U.S. Navy's third highest award for
gallantry in combat, following the Navy Cross and the nation's
highest award, the Medal of Honor.
Rear Adm. Thomas R. Cullison, commander, Navy Medicine East and
commander, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Va., made the
presentation in front of the Naval Hospital located aboard Naval
Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas.
During the ceremony, Cullison spoke about the bond that Navy
Medicine, particularly Navy corpsmen, share with Marines.
"When we serve with the Marines and the Marines are with us, it's
a relationship that you can find nowhere else," said Cullison. "The
acceptance between these two groups is like no other. The
responsibility that we put on our young corpsmen in battle to
perform and to save lives is incredible."
Clarifying that point, Cullison compared the controlled
environment that he and other surgeons work in with the help of
many others.
"Young corpsmen who go to Field Medical Service School - usually
straight out of high school - perform to save lives in combat, just
as Petty Officer Rubio did, and they are amazing!" he said.
Representing the Commanding General, 1st Marine Division, Marine
Maj. Gen. R. F. Natonski and Command Master Chief Kelvin Carter
hand-carried the award to Texas from Camp Pendleton, Calif., and
assisted Cullison with the presentation. He also brought a personal
message with him for Rubio.
"I talked to all the Marines and sailors in Iraq before I left,
and those back in Camp Pendleton, and they want me to tell you,
'good job, and outstanding job!' They are damned proud of you," he
said. "Please continue what you have done for our great nation, the
Marine Corps and Navy team, and also for the hospital corps
community."
Rubio had already earned the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in
the Jan. 1, 2005, engagement while serving with 4th Platoon, Small
Craft Company, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force,
U.S. Marine Forces Central Command. |
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