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Chief Warrant Officer 2 Thomas F. Parks is Awarded the Silver Star

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Oct. 28, 2004) -- He's credited with singlehandedly wiping out an enemy tank, a sniper and two other enemy fighters -- in rapid response to an ambush against his commanders. He killed numerous other enemy fighters, too, during the march to Baghdad.

But he didn't just help his own. He risked his life to save Iraqi families, escorting them to bunkers as bullets flew in their midst.

His selfless response in the heat of battle is being dubbed "heroic" -- and earned him the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest combat award for heroism.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Thomas F. Parks, 39, of Dover, N.H., accepted the award Monday at 1st Marine Division Headquarters.

The award is in recognition of Parks' actions from March 20 to April 10, 2003, during the blitzkrieg toward Baghdad that ultimately bounced Saddam Hussein from power. Parks was serving as the battalion infantry weapons officer for 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, attached to Regimental Combat Team 1.

The award clincher may have been what he did on April 3 during a battle at Al Kut, Parks and his company came "under intense small-arms and rocket fire" while escorting the battalion command element. He dismounted from the escort to direct the fight. In the face of "heavy enemy fire," Parks displayed "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" by directing troops during the fight, the award citation said.

Moreover, he amounted to a one-man wrecking crew, based on battlefield accounts.

According to the citation, he killed three enemy fighters in response to the ambush, including a sniper "who was about to fire his weapon at another Marine," the citation said.

He also destroyed an Iraqi T-55 tank with an AT-4 rocket "amidst a hail of enemy machine gun and sniper fire," the citation said.

Parks said his priority was "to neutralize the threat and protect the battalion commander."

"The battalion commander was in a soft-pack humvee, and I was in a hard-pack humvee with a mounted machine gun," said Parks, adding that a lance corporal suppressed "most of the threat" with the machine gun as Parks directed his fire.
Parks, meanwhile, exited the vehicle and fired his rifle.

At one point, Parks "ran across the street under heavy small-arms fire" to direct tank fire that "achieved the destruction of several enemy bunkers and strongpoints," the citation said.

"He is an outstanding gentlemen to work for. He is very professional in every sense of the term," said Capt. Christopher C. Martin, training officer-in-charge for the I Marine Expeditionary Force's Augmentation Command Element. Martin worked and fought with Parks at 1/4.

"He is a great leader, and he is someone you can stand behind on every decision he makes," Martin said.
Martin added that Parks' combat performance was no surprise.

"Being a gunner and the weapons expert for the battalion, you just know any decision he makes about deploying weapons and the use of any type of weapons is going to be the smart and right decision," he said.

Martin confirmed firsthand Parks' efforts to save Iraqis.

"I remember in Iraq, he went out into harms way to help out injured Iraqi civilians," Martin said. "That speaks volumes on this man ... not only on (his professionalism), but he's also a kind man."

Parks dedicated the award to the Marines in 1st Battalion, 4th Marines who are still fighting in Iraq, where I should still be," he said.

He also credited his wife -- Chief Warrant Officer Christine Glynn -- and four children with his success.

[Kimmymac]

HOO- rAH!

You ever notice how *real* heroes are quick to give credit to others?

"A one man wrecking crew." What Marine isn't?
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The last refuge of scoundrels is not patriotism; it is finicky liberal humanitarianism.--Martin Paretz

[Fphamm]

Way to go, Sir.

[Rdtf]

I love that! What a warm and fuzzy on a stressful day

[buffman]

Kerry shooting a VC teen in the back pales in comparison.
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Never Ever Give Up
America First