Local Marine gets Navy Cross
By: ERIN SCHULTZ - Staff Writer | ∞
CAMP PENDLETON ---- A Camp Pendleton Marine who fought off nearly a dozen Iraqi insurgents and used his own wounded body to shield other hurt Marines from enemy fire has been posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, the second-highest honor given to Marines for valor in combat.
Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Adlesperger, who survived that November 2004 firefight in the violence-wracked city of Fallujah but was killed in a different battle the following month, was selected for the award this week, according to a citation from the secretary of the Navy.
"By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of enemy fire and utmost devotion to duty, ... Adlesperger reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service," read the citation letter that made the award official. The letter is signed by Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter.
Adlesperger was with the Kilo Company of Camp Pendleton's 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines when Marines were fighting house to house in Fallujah, an insurgent stronghold that at the time was the site of some of the bloodiest battles of the war.
In a written statement released in October by Camp Pendleton's public affairs office, Marine officials said Adlesperger and three others ---- Lance Cpl. Erick Hodges, Navy corpsman Alonso Rogero and Lance Cpl. Ryan Sunnerville ---- entered a house on Nov. 10, 2004, when they received heavy machine gun fire. According to the statement, Hodges died instantly and Rogero and Sunnerville were injured. Adlesperger, who was wounded, shielded the other wounded amid enemy fire and single-handedly shot and killed several insurgents, clearing a path that allowed him to move the wounded to the relative safety of the building's rooftop.
"Lance Cpl. Adlesperger threw grenades onto the enemy squad below ---- driving the insurgents into the open," the statement read. "Even as the insurgents tried to take his position, he remained steadfast, killing several insurgents with his rifle and with subsequent volleys of grenades. Disregarding his wounds, he joined his platoon in a final assault on the enemy machine gun position to eliminate the insurgent threat."
Adlesperger was nominated by his battalion commander in early 2005 for the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award. He was instead awarded the Navy Cross.
Adlesperger, a native of Albuquerque, N.M., joined the Marines in November 2003 and was sent to Camp Pendleton from where he deployed to Iraq in September 2004.
Contact Erin Schultz at (760) 739-6644 or eschultz@nctimes.com.
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wow wrote on Mar 23, 2007 4:56 AM:rip
KC wrote on Mar 23, 2007 6:51 AM:Semper Fi. Thank you for your unselfish service to your country.
Thanks wrote on Mar 23, 2007 12:20 PM:That is what real hereos are made of.. Thank you for you service and sacrifice.
mot wrote on Mar 23, 2007 1:06 PM:you are so much fresh air i cant thank you with out crying.
Geesh!!! wrote on Mar 23, 2007 9:26 PM:Just a Navy Cross???So exactly what else did he need to do to earn a Medal of Honor???? Damn liberal democrats probably blocked it when it came up for review because how dare he do the job he was trained to do in killing the poor helpless enemy! Give me a break!
Tom Hovey wrote on Mar 23, 2007 10:32 PM:God bless, its not about the medal its about saving your brothers.Forever thanks
To Geesh wrote on Mar 23, 2007 10:46 PM:Regardless of the reasons, we will honor our fallen wariors with the love they deserve. God Bless those who are willing to lay down their lives for their brothers (and sisters). In our hearts we know what Lance Cpl. Adlesperger did was deserving of more than we can ever repay with a peice of ribbon and stamped metal. He was a Marine's Marine, a Man's Man, and a Hero to all who love Freedom! God Bless America, and Sempre Fi! (USN Ret.)
P. O.'ed wrote on Mar 28, 2007 10:07 AM:I think it is really sad that this Marine is not in the ranks of the other Medal of Honor recipients. Someone needs to make a stand for all the service members who have been short changed the recognition they deserve. Also why does it take so long for the service members to receive such awards??????? pathetic!!!!!
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