Two Heroes

Blackfive reports on two heroes.

On April 17th, during one of the worst firefights in Iraq, Captain Richard J. Gannon III, Comander of Company L, 3/7 Marines, was killed while trying to rescue a wounded Marine. He and two Lance Corporals ran out into a hail of gunfire to rescue a wounded comrade. The CO was lost.

A common misconception amongst the enemies of the United States is that if you kill the leadership of a unit, the unit will fall apart. There is nothing farther from the truth. And the Marines proved it that day.

The beloved Commander (said by his men to be as "tough as a $2 steak!") had trained his Executive Officer well.

First Lieutenant Dominique Neal took over the battle after losing his good friend and Commander, Captain Gannon. The Marines took the fight to the terrorists and won the day.