Department of the Navy Honors Pentagon Heroes

US Navy Press Releases

. Department of the Navy Honors Pentagon Heroes By Jerome W. Mapp, Navy News Service

Washington (NNS) -- Eighty-five Department of the Navy uniformed and civilian personnel, who distinguished themselves following the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon, were honored Dec. 17 for their bravery and sacrifice.

Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark, and Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael J. Williams hosted the awards ceremony in the Pentagon Center Courtyard, exactly where some of the heroes stepped forward Sept. 11.

The Sailors, Marines and civilian workers were honored for battling fires ignited when the hijacked airliner crashed into the Pentagon, and for rescuing those trapped in the ensuing inferno created by the blast. Some were decorated for wounds received in the attack.

England pinned on medals and handed out award certificates to the heroes, as family members, friends and co-workers looked on from an audience that included a sea of Sailors, Marines and civilian guests.

"Today we are here to honor the naval men and women whose acts of courage, bravery and disregard for their own safety became the first acts of defiance against the enemies of freedom," praised England during the ceremony. "When the Pentagon became a combat zone, your honor, courage and commitment rose to the fore!"

The Navy leaders presented nine different categories of awards during the ceremony. Twenty-one received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for saving lives. This award is one of the highest non-combat awards for heroism the Department of Defense presents.

One Sailor received the second of his career for life- saving heroics. Seven civilians also received various awards for their actions and contributions that day.

Four Sailors received the Purple Heart, and two Department of the Navy civilians received the Defense of Freedom Medal, the civilian equivalent of the Purple Heart.

"When faced with the very real challenge of the defense of our nation, these shipmates responded heroically," said Clark.

"Their actions and professionalism speak volumes about the quality of people we have throughout the Department of the Navy."

The list of DoN personnel receiving awards is as follows: Navy And Marine Corps Medal:

Capt. George P. Croy

Capt. Mark E. Kosnik,

Capt. David M. Thomas

Cmdr. George M. Lancaster

Cmdr. Samuel Perez

Cmdr. Craig D. Powell

Cmdr. Donald A. Schmieley

Cmdr. Hugh D. Wetherald

Lt. Cmdr. Charles Capets

Lt. Cmdr. David A. Tarantino Jr.

Lt. Olin M. Sell

Chief Yeoman John T. Krauss

Gunnery Sgt. James Mceniry

Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Steven G. Gully

Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Jason M.

Lhuillier Operations Specialist 2nd Class Roberto Paz

Operations Specialist 2nd Class Jason W. Rakowski

Quartermaster 2nd Class Christopher T. Suggs

Aviation Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Kenyatta Jackson

Lance Cpl. Dustin P. Schuetz

Lance Cpl. Michael Vera

Yeoman Seaman Cean E. Whitmarsh Purple Heart:

Cmdr. Charles E. Coughlin

Cmdr. Robert N. Greenberg

Yeoman 2nd Class Charles Lewis

Information Systems Technician Seaman Sarah M. Cole Defense of Freedom Medal

Jarrell N. Henson

Amy E. Fowler Superior Public Service Award

Stephen Hoerst

Kim Scott

Georgios Sekeroglou Superior Civilian Service Award

George Axiotis

Alphonso W. Moore

Natalie Ogletree Meritorious Service Medal

Capt. Loren V. Heckleman

Cmdr. Charles E. Coughlin

Cmdr. John F. Kieffer

Cmdr. George E. Navas

Cmdr. James M. Spence

Lt. j.g. William Parks

Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Steven G. Gully

Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Jesse G. Polasek Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal

Capt. John Feerick

Capt. Stephen Frost

Capt. Philip W. Grandfield

Capt. Dennis J. Kern

Capt. Judy A. Logeman

Capt. Thornwell F. Rush

Capt. Kenneth K. Seen

Capt. Jane F. Viera

Capt. James W. Wise

Cmdr. McWilliam V. Bollman

Cmdr. Donald H.B. Braswell

Cmdr. Jeffrey S. Jones

Cmdr. Edward D. Langford

Cmdr. Randall J. Lescault

Cmdr. John M. Uhl

Cmdr. Karl J. Van Deusen

Cmdr. James R. Yohe

Lt. Cmdr. Nelson C. Castro

Lt. Cmdr. Robert B. Chadwick

Lt. Cmdr. James J. Malloy

Lt. Cmdr. Alan F. Nordholm

Lt. Cmdr. Dale C. Rielage

Lt. Cmdr. James. F. Skarbek

Lt. Cmdr. Michael W. Way

Lt. Shaun. A. Chittick

Lt. Kelly D. Ennis

Lt. Gregory E. Goodman

Lt. Megan J. Humbert

Marine Capt. Matthew E. Sutton

Lt. Thomas P. Wypyski

Lt. j.g. Laura L. Mallory

Chief Cryptolic Technician Sheryl A. Alleger

Chief Hospital Corpsman Raymond D. Hamilton

Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Malnichuck

Gunnery Sgt. McClelland

Staff Sgt. Ronald Mix

Sgt. Tim A. Chambers

Sgt. Michael K. Farrington

Yeoman 2nd Class Kevin W. Hazelwood

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jeremy Wilkinson

Cpl. Garret B. Bliss Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal

Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Listopad

Chief Yeoman Alrich M. Davis

Chief Mess Specialist Antonia Lopez

Chief Yeoman Richard A. Matthews Jr.

Information Systems Technician Seaman Sarah M. Cole Navy Letter of Commendation

Capt. Arthur R. Miller

Cmdr. Ronald D. Luka

Cmdr. Kevin L. Magnusson

Cmdr. Thomas J. Sawyer

Lt. Cmdr. David A. Lemek

Lt. Gregory E. Goodman