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Okinawa-based gunny receives Silver Star

A gunnery sergeant was awarded the Silver Star on Thursday, four months after he helped fight off insurgents in Iraq by calling for his vehicle to be rammed into a building, then leading the recovery of a wounded Marine inside.

Gunnery Sgt. Robert Blanton, of 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, received the medal during a ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan, Marine officials said in a statement. Lt. Gen. Richard Zilmer, commanding general of Okinawa-based III Marine Expeditionary Force and commander of Marine Corps Bases Japan, presented the medal.

Blanton was serving as platoon sergeant of 1st Platoon, Company A, on Aug. 10 in Iraq when his platoon came under fire while clearing what looked to be an abandoned house, according to his award citation. Blanton repositioned his platoon’s vehicles to support the Marines under fire then dismounted, facing incoming fire and “engaging insurgents as they presented themselves.”

“Using initiative and quick thinking, Gunnery Sergeant Blanton returned to his vehicle and directed it to ram the building’s outer wall in order to expose additional insurgents within the house,” said the citation, which is signed by Commandant Gen. James Conway. “He then led a small group of Marines to clear the building and recover a wounded Marine trapped inside.”

During the recovery, Blanton swapped from his rifle to his pistol and began firing on nearby insurgents. He then coordinated with support aircraft to call in a strike on the compound once he and his Marines had recovered their wounded comrade, ending the fight, the citation said.

“By his bold leadership, wise judgment and complete dedication to duty, Gunnery Sergeant Blanton reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service,” the citation said.