Marine receives medal two years late

[sabra]

Source: AP

November 12, 2007 (WAUCONDA, Ill.) - A marine from suburban Chicago received a commendation medal yesterday, after waiting two years to receive the honor.

Marine Reserve Gunnery Sergeant Scott Ottesen was nominated for the medal in 2005 after he provided cover to exposed infantry troops in Iraq and maneuvered troops under enemy fire so they could help other soldiers.

But the paperwork for the award was lost for two years at the Pentagon.

The 43-year-old received the award from Congresswoman Melissa Bean during a ceremony at Wauconda High School yesterday.

Ottesen says he didn't set out to win a medal and was just trying to do his job.

Read more: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=5756463

[NYVet]

1. 99% of the recipients of military awards say the same thing

And then they point out their buddy and say "I was only there because he kicked me in the ass to follow him".


Men and women like Gunnery Sgt Otterson and SFC Paul R Smith are the role models that kids should have, instead of music artists or sports figures who spend more time in the news for getting in trouble than they do for making a positive mark in the community.