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Sergeant Philip A. McCulloch,
Jr.
Company K, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, Regimental Combat Team
Eight, SECOND Marine Division (Forward), I Marine Expeditionary Force
(Forward)
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in
presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Philip A. McCulloch, Jr.,
United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
in action while serving as Squad Leader, Company K, Third Battalion,
Fifth Marines, Regimental Combat Team Eight, SECOND Marine Division
(Forward), I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) Afghanistan on 8
January 2011 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. During a
six-hour engagement with insurgent forces in Sangin District, Sergeant
McCulloch led his squad of Marine sin a determined pursuit of a
numerically superior enemy force. After being attacked by enemy
fighters, he personally led his squad's counter attack by assuming
point and closing on the enemy, pausing just long enough to destroy an
enemy fighting positions with an AT-4. Once he regained the
initiative, he pursued the enemy into a nearby row of compounds and
forced them into fixed positions where many of them were destroyed by
close air support and indirect fires, combined with maneuver.
Maintaining constant pressure on the enemy, he forced them to fall
back as aircraft departed for fuel and ammunition re-supply.
Throughout the engagement, he aggressively drove his Marines to remain
focused, exposing himself to enemy fire to identify enemy positions
and coordinate fires in support of maneuver. Even after beginning to
return to base, as the enemy again engaged the Marines, he controlled
another section of helicopters with devastating effects, allowing his
squad to return to friendly lines. By his bold leadership, wise
judgment, and complete dedication to duty, Sergeant McCulloch
reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions
of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval
Service.
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so
others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them
Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When
There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look
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