SPC Newberry- Soldier/Hero

After conducting a crater analysis, the team determined with a degree of certainty that the attacker must have launched his mortars from a small island in the middle of the Tigris river. They were determined to not let this night be a repeat of the last three, hoping to catch their assailant as he attempted again to land a deadly mortar inside their base camp on the outskirts of Mosul. Specialist Newberry held the row boat steady while the two American Soldiers and one Iraqi policeman climbed on board, then watched as they quietly floated along the swift current of the Tigris towards the suspect island. Standing in the dark on the shore he started feeling a little sorry for himself in that he wasn’t going along with the team, there wasn’t enough room in the rickety old boat. His heart jumped as he heard a splash and saw the outline of the boat capsize in the shadows of the night.

Newberry reacted immediately, running at a sprint to a nearby dock and commandeering an Iraqi speed boat, never taking his eye off the now sinking boat and the three heads of his comrades floating in the frigid waters, holding onto pieces of the boat’s equipment that were also floating in the swift current. As the engine sputtered and choked to life, Specialist Newberry slammed the throttle forward racing to the aid of his fellow Soldiers.

One of them later commented, “I honestly didn’t think Newberry would get there in time. I was really cold and not thinking clearly.”

He did get there in time, and he fished the three from the ice cold Tigris, saving their lives. Specialist Newberry was awarded the Soldier’s Medal for his heroic actions.

“What you did was heroic and brave. You, Specialist Newberry, are a true hero,” said Gen. George Casey, Multinational Forces-Iraq Commander, moments before he presented the Soldier’s Medal.

Good work Soldier, I’m proud of you Newberry. Sgt Hook out.

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Posted by Hook @ 0050 zulu | | Permalink
This post is filed under: Heroes

Thanks for that post. That was inspiring. It’s a shame how many of these heroes we don’t know about here at home. These little victories for them, are victories for us - yet we don’t usually get to learn of them. Thanks for sharing this with us.

Comment by Kathleen Acton — 27 July 2004 @ 0102

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Thanks Hook for sharing this with us and allowing us to know when an appropriate recogniation such as this takes place.

Comment by Sweet N Sassy — 27 July 2004 @ 0517

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Congratulations to SPC Newberry! Well deserved recognition.

Comment by Teresa — 27 July 2004 @ 1427

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Well done, Newberry.

Comment by Peter — 28 July 2004 @ 0517

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NEW YORK (CNN) — Former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik said Saturday that withdrawing his name from consideration for Homeland Security secretary “was the right thing to do.”

Comment by tits — 12 December 2004 @ 0922

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