Another Marine Hero

I am biased. The U.S. Marine Corps is the finest fighting force ever to take the field of battle. Unless I have overlooked some third world country the size of Rhode Island, the Marine Corps is the only "army" in history to have never surrendered in wartime (Marine units under other service commands not included), and in the Phillipines in WWII Marines disobeyed orders to surrender and mounted guerilla operations against the Japanese. I digress. Thanks to TM, I have mounted a campaign to honor those who aren't honored in the MSM, as it is proper to do so. This post is long, please forgive me, but this is the story from the "Marine Corps News" at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, my former home. (Side note: On the title link, there is an article about Sen. John McCain's son enlisting in the Marine Corps).

Risking His Life for His Marines
Marine Corps News | Lcpl. Ryan M. Blaich | July 31, 2006


MCB Camp Lejeune, N.C. - For some, loyalty is taught. For some, arguably, loyalty can be bought. However, for one Marine captain, his loyalty to the Corps and his fellow Marines is without question.

Capt. Jason P. Schauble, 4th platoon commander, 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company, attached to 1st Marine Division for operations conducted in Iraq, was awarded a Silver Star, Bronze Star with a combat “V” for valor and a Meritorious Service Medal by Maj. Gen. Dennis J. Hejlik, commanding general of Marine Forces Special Operations Command July 28. The three awards marked the impressive end to the career for one of America’s finest.

According to the Silver Star citation, the Canton, Mass., native received his Silver Star for his actions while serving under I Marine Expeditionary Force during Operation Iraqi Freedom Jan. 3, 2005.

“… With no regard for his personal safety,…” Schauble led his Marines in a “limited-scale raid on a High Value Target deep inside insurgent-controlled territory.”

During the raid, his assault team came under intense fire. Schauble made the decision to enter a farmhouse and recover a fallen Marine. His presence inside the house attracted small arms fire from multiple insurgents. Despite having been shot and seriously wounded, Schauble was able to kill two insurgents and allow his Marines to move into position and engage the targets.

“…Risking his life to protect his Marines,” according to the citation.

The Silver Star is the third highest award for valor within the Department of Defense, awarded on extremely rare occasions to exemplary war fighters.

Schauble was also awarded the Bronze Star with combat distinguishing device for his actions during the pre-assault shaping and seizure of both cities of Hit and Fallujah from Oct. 11 to Nov. 16, 2004.

Schauble received a Bronze Star for coordinating all artillery fire, as well as sniper operations during the shaping operations in Hit and Fallujah. The citation commends Schauble for his bravery and selfless behavior in exposing himself to enemy fire, to include a machine gun, to direct and load his Marines. His direction enabled his Marines to successfully engage enemy targets

Schauble and his team were involved in several lengthy firefights in which more than 15 Marines were wounded and at least 50 insurgents were killed. Despite casualties his team suffered, the bravery, leadership and shrewdness Schauble displayed allowed Marines to maintain their “superior fighting spirit.”

After Schauble’s duty in Iraq, he assisted the newly created Foreign Military Training Unit, MARSOC, in May of 2005. For his outstanding service as the Future Operations Officer of the FMTU, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

Shauble was credited a third time for providing a tremendous asset in creating both the Foreign Military Training Unit and Marine Corps Special Forces Command. The MSM write-up indicates, “he used his extensive knowledge and operational experience to help create the Foreign Military Training Unit…”

“I am obviously very honored and privileged to be able to sign off on his award for the Meritorious Service Medal,” said Hejlik. “Not only a combat warrior and a hero to our Corps and country, he is flipping smart.”

Schauble’s awards signify a career accomplishment and service to his nation and unit that qualify as nothing less than heroic, according to many present.

Marines in attendance of the ceremony paid their due respect to the thrice-decorated war veteran.

“I’ve never seen anybody get that much before, but I’ve never seen anybody as good as him before,” said Maj. Jack O’Toole, the current operations officer of MARSOC. “He certainly was more than deserving of those awards.”

Schauble, also a Purple Heart recipient, seemed to be uncomfortable with the recognition, and said he is not accustomed to being in the spotlight.

“I’m not big on the public things,” said Schauble. “I do what I do because that’s what had to be done at the time.”

Schauble, who has dedicated nine years of his life to the Marine Corps, medically retired at the conclusion of the ceremony. Although he and his wife are expecting their first child and planning a new chapter in life together, he said he did not expect to leave the Marines after nine years.

“It’s a hard day for me,” Schauble said.

Hejlik read a letter from Marines who witnessed Schauble in action, and used the eyewitness account to commend Schauble, 31, for his incommunicable contributions.

“Most of us have led Marines in combat,” said Hejlik. “He has just done it exceptionally well.”

The words described a warrior who, above all else, had a deep loyalty to his Marines and would protect each one of them, even at great risk to his own life.