An emotional ceremony at Camp Pendleton awarded a Navy corpsman with the Navy Cross and two killed Marines with the Bronze Star for their brave actions in Afghanistan.
In September 2011, the service members were serving overseas in the First Marine Special Operations Battalion when their courage was tested.
They were clearing an Afghan police checkpoint when not one, but two improvised explosive devices went off.
After suffering injuries to his chest and face, Petty Officer 1st Class Justin Wilson reacted without regard for his own personal safety to treat those injured.
He moved one of his wounded teammates out of the kill zone and gave him aid until he died.
Wilson also found two other Marines killed in action before he finally allowed other members of the patrol to treat his injuries.
For those brave actions, Wilson received the Navy Cross Tuesday.
“I only saw one thing in their eyes: it's courage. The love of a brother and the desire bring him home,” said Wilson during the ceremony.
Camp Pendleton officials also presented two posthumous Bronze Stars to the families of Staff Sgts. Christopher Diaz and Nicholas Sprovtsoff.
When the IED that injured Wilson exploded, they selflessly put themselves between their team and the explosive to safe their fellow service members.
Diaz’ son Jeremy and his father Salvador Diaz Jr. accepted the medal in his honor at the ceremony.
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“Three young men brave men lost their lives. They went to God; they went to fulfill their duties up in heaven to watch over us,” said Salvador.
