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The
President of the United States
Takes Pleasure in Presenting
The Navy Cross
To
Jarrett
A. Kraft
Sergeant, United States Marine Corps
For
Services as Set Forth in the Following
Citation:
For extraordinary heroism
while serving as Squad Leader, 81-millimeter Mortar Platoon, Weapons
Company, 3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1,
1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, U.S. Marine Corps
Forces, Central, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 23 December
2004. As numerically superior insurgent forces attacked Sergeant Kraft
and the Marines in Al Fallujah, Iraq, he quickly organized and
fearlessly led three assault forces on three separate attacks to repel
the insurgents and ensure the successful advance of the battalion. With
complete disregard for his own life, he placed himself between intense
enemy fire and the men during each attack providing suppressive fire and
leadership to sustain the fight and eliminate the enemy. Although
grenades thrown by the insurgents rendered him momentarily unconscious
during one assault, this did not dampen his spirit or determination.
Undeterred, Sergeant Kraft continued to lead from the front, despite
being wounded himself. On two more occasions, he was knocked down
stairwells by enemy grenade blasts and finally while emplacing a sniper
in a critical location, Sergeant Kraft was knocked down by the blast
from a friendly M1A1 tank main gun. He demonstrated courageous
leadership with a complete disregard for his own safety, during this
desperate two-hour battle as he personally braved multiple enemy small
arms kill zones to render assistance and guidance to his Marines. By his
outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the
face of heavy enemy fire, and utmost devotion to duty, Sergeant Kraft
reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of
the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Home Town:
Fresno, California
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