MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Dozens of enemy rocket propelled
grenades, several thousand rounds of machine-gun fire spraying from AK-47
assault rifles and handfuls of grenades all coming from three directions
pinning down a company of Marines sounds like a scene out of the movies, but
it’s the real-life experience for Sgt. Maj. William S. Skiles, sergeant
major of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squardon-267, Marine Corps Air
Station Camp Pendleton.The Bronze Star Medal with combat distinguishing
device was awarded to Skiles for his actions April 26, 2004 while on the
outskirts of Fallujah, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom II. Skiles was
the first sergeant for Company E, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment,
Regimental Combat Team 1, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
at the time.
“Today is not about me, it’s about those Marines(Company E),” said Skiles
as he paused for some tearful moments and then regained his composure and
continued to address the Marines. “It’s also about those Marines who serve
day to day and who cross the line of duty and are willing to go to the
extreme to defend this great country and to fight and die for each other.
There is a worse fear than dying…letting your
 Marines down when their life
is on the line.”
Realizing the critical requirement to relieve the platoon of their
wounded Marines, he drove the evacuation vehicles and personnel directly to
the embattled platoon’s position under intense enemy small arms fire.
“Rank does not make you a leader, it gives you a responsibility to take
care of Marines. In battle, each of us are equal, we fight side by side and
we all bleed the same,” said 44-year-old Skiles, from San Juan Capistrano.
Upon reaching the platoon, he dismounted the vehicle and coordinated the
evacuation of four severely wounded Marines, personally laying down
suppressive fire, encouraging Marines and handing out M-16 magazines and
fragmentation grenades to riflemen low on ammunition.
He then jumped in the Humvee and drove through enemy fire and Fallujah’s
rubble-strewn streets to his battalion’s forward operating base. Finally
stopping at the field hospital, he consoled his wounded Marines and
strengthened the resolve of the entire company by his steady, sturdy
leadership, said the awards citation.
Skiles modestly told his wife of the situation over the phone, she later
found out the severity of the situation from one of the injured Marines.
“I am not surprised at what he has
done, but would be very amazed if he didn’t do it,” said Tanis L. Skiles.
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