Bradley Kasal

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Kasal being awarded the Navy Cross and promoted to sergeant major in May 2006

Bradley Allan Kasal (born May 1, 1966) is a United States Marine who received the Navy Cross for heroic actions performed as the first sergeant of Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines during a firefight in Operation Phantom Fury in Fallujah, Iraq on November 13, 2004. He received the decoration in May 2006 during a ceremony at Camp Pendleton, followed by his promotion to sergeant major and reenlistment in the U.S. Marine Corps. He retired in 2018 after nearly thirty-four years of service.

Career

Iraq War

Actions in Iraq

In a firefight with insurgents in a house in Fallujah, although wounded by seven 7.62×39mm rounds in the legs and hit by more than 43 pieces of hot fragmentation from a grenade while using his body to shield an injured fellow Marine, PFC Alex Nicoll (who was also injured in the legs), First Sergeant Kasal refused to quit fighting and was able to return fire with his M9 pistol, killing at least one insurgent. Kasal is credited with saving the lives of several Marines during the U.S. assault on insurgent strongholds in Fallujah in November 2004.

By the time he was carried out of the house by LCpls Chris Marquez and Dane Shaffer, Kasal had lost approximately 60 percent of his blood. A photograph that was taken by photographer Lucian Read of a bloodied Kasal (who continued to maintain control, including trigger and muzzle discipline, of his M9 pistol and his KA-BAR fighting knife despite the extent of his injuries) being helped from the building by Marquez and Shaffer has become one of the iconic pictures of the war. A bronze statue of Marquez and Shaffer helping Kasal to safety, titled No Man Left Behind and based on Read's photograph, was installed outside the Wounded Warrior Battalion West site at Camp Pendleton in November 2014.

Recovery

Due to the injuries, Kasal lost four inches of bone in his right leg. He has undergone 21 surgeries to date in order to repair his injuries and save his leg. Kasal continues his recovery from his wounds and still walks with a limp.

Kasal served as the Sergeant Major of Recruiting Station Des Moines, Iowa from May 2006 until January 2010. He then returned to Camp Pendleton to serve as the Sergeant Major at the School of Infantry West In March 2010, Kasal was featured in the debut episode of Sharing the Courage, a graphic novel series depicting decorated Marines of the 21st century. On November 15, 2012, the book My Men are My Heroes: The Brad Kasal Story by Nathaniel Helms, was released; published by the Naval Institute Press. He became sergeant major of the Fourth Marine Division in March 2013 and then became sergeant major of the First Marine Expeditionary Force in February 2015.

After retirement

Kasal retired in 2018, after 34 years with the United States Marine Corps. After the USMC, Kasal started teaching at high schools through the MCJROTC program. He continued to teach about discipline, honor, respect, & courage through his experiences in the Marine Corps. He is currently the MI at Basic Academy of International Studies, in Henderson, Nevada, along with LtCol Bradley Van Slyke.

Navy Cross citation

The President of the United States
Takes Pleasure in Presenting The Navy Cross To

Bradley A. Kasal
First Sergeant, United States Marine Corps

For Services as Set Forth in the Following Citation:

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References

• Gonzalez, Cindy. (February 13, 2005) Omaha World-Herald.
• Helms, Nathaniel R. (February 2, 2005) "From an Iowa Town to a Marine Corps Legend". DefenseWatch. (URL accessed May 3, 2006)
• Perry, Tony. (May 1, 2006). "Marine Hero to Be Decorated for His Bravery" Template:Webarchive, Los Angeles Times. (URL accessed May 6, 2006)
• Shapiro, Joseph. (March 8, 2005) "Caring for the Wounded: The Story of Two Marines." Template:Webarchive NPR Morning Edition. (URL accessed May 3, 2006)