Average day ends with a Purple Heart

Spc. Maurice Galloway/17th Fires Brigade

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRAH, Iraq – “Nothing seemed different; it was just like any other time that we went out. I was scanning my area, up, down, side-to-side, just as I’ve been taught. We pulled in to the area and everything seemed as it had on so many other occasions, until,” said a gunner as he recalled the day he was hit with a Molotov cocktail, an event that resulted in him receiving the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat.

Early that morning on Jan. 5, Pfc. Cameron R. Hebert and the Soldiers of Team 1, Brigade Maneuver Element, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 17th Fires Brigade, were assigned a mission to escort a civil affairs team to Timinyah in Basrah, Iraq. Their mission was to talk to the people of the area about how they could help better their community.

“We escorted the team through the area and they conducted their assessment without any problems, but it was clear we were not welcomed,” said Staff Sgt. Richard Chapel, convoy commander.

The convoy was ready for the trip home, when things took a turn for the worse.

“Kids that were throwing rocks at the convoy, so I began scanning slowly in their direction to ensure the situation didn’t escalate. The .50-cal. is pretty intimidating and they usually don’t continue bothering us when it’s turned in their direction,” said Hebert.

While Hebert was keeping the stone throwers at bay, a greater threat lurked at his back.

As they rolled out, Sgt. 1st Class John C. Zanella, the NCOIC, was first to notice an attacker approaching the left rear of the convoy.

“I saw a man ... running toward us with a Molotov cocktail in his hand,” Zanella said.

With the explosive in the attacker’s hand and his arm drawn back ready for release, Zanella fired from the moving vehicle. Determined to kill Americans, the man hurled the makeshift bomb and turned to a nearby alley. Zanella fired two more shots and gave chase, keeping his eyes on the suspect.

The bottle struck the side of the turret Hebert was manning. Instantly the turret was engulfed in flames.

“I just remember it getting very hot.” Hebert said. “I glanced around and then saw the flames climbing up the side of my right arm.”

In shock, Hebert calmly said, “I’m on fire.”

The calm left his voice as he repeated, “I’m on fire, I’m on fire!”

Seeing the flames from a vehicle ahead, Staff Sgt. Joseph R. Dye raced to the truck where the driver, Pfc. Brittany D. Gutierrez, released the combat-locked door giving Dye access to the fire extinguisher.

Hebert dropped into the vehicle through the gunner’s hatch.

“I could feel the heat from flames climbing up my arm towards my neck,” Hebert said. “That’s when I saw Sergeant Dye with the fire extinguisher.”

Dye put out the flames and the convoy medic began treating Hebert’s wounds.

“When she finished, she asked me if I was OK and I told her, ‘It hurts a little, but I’m good.’ She asked, ‘Are you sure?’ I said, ‘Yeah I’m good.’ Then I got back in to the turret and started scanning my area again,” Hebert said.

Moments later, Zanella radioed back to the convoy that he and members of the team, along with Iraqi soldiers had cornered the suspect in a mosque.

Members of the IA entered the mosque and brought out several individuals matching the description of the attacker.

Through the help of an interpreter Zanella identified the attacker.

Zanella instructed Cpl. Dustin J. Anderson to put the suspect in wrist restraints and turn him over to the custody of the IA.

After returning to the COB, Hebert went to the medical center for further treatment of his injuries. After a medical examination cleared him for duty, he was off on another mission a few hours later.

A couple of weeks later outside the HHB headquarters, an award ceremony was held in Hebert’s honor. He stood before a small formation and was presented the Purple Heart by Col. Steven L. Bullimore, 17th Fires Bde. commander.

“I’m honored to receive this medal, but no one aspires to get a Purple Heart,” Hebert said. “I have to thank Sergeant Z (Zanella) for what he did that day. That guy would have had a clear shot at me and things could have been much worse had Sergeant Z not reacted so quickly.”

This was the first Purple Heart awarded to a 17th Fires Bde. Soldier during this deployment.

The Purple Heart medal was first established by General George Washington at Newburgh, New York on August 7, 1782 and is awarded by the President of the United States of America and presented to military personal that have been wounded in action.