Former Navy corpsman awarded Silver Star for saving Marine in combat
A former Navy corpsman has been awarded a Silver Star for saving the life of a wounded Marine from Camp Pendleton during an enemy ambush in Afghanistan.
Jonathan Kong, 25, was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment during the 2011 battle against Taliban fighters in Helmand province, long a Taliban stronghold.
On June 13, 2011, Kong’s platoon was ambushed by the Taliban as the Marines patrolled the village of Kotozay. A Marine was shot in the chest and fell to the ground “with bullets striking the ground around him,” according to Kong’s Silver Star citation.
Kong was initially pinned down by enemy fire but then “courageously rushed from his covered position, boldly charged into the kill zone dodging a hail of bullets, and reached the casualty,” according to the citation.
Kong pulled the wounded Marine to safety and then provided “life-saving aid.” For his bravery he was meritoriously promoted to petty officer second-class. He also received a Combat Action Ribbon for returning fire in combat.
A native of San Jose, Kong finished his six-year tour in the Navy in 2013 and is now attending college with plans of becoming a doctor.
Kong received the Silver Star from Maj. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson during a ceremony Friday at Camp Pendleton.
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