Videos

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jorge Barajas, a dental technician with 1st Dental Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group talks about how he received the DN Thomas A. Christensen Award. The award is named in honor of Thomas A. Christensen Jr., who, during the Battle of Chosen Reservoir in Korea, was attached to an Amphibious Tractor Battalion that came under attack by Chinese Communists. During the battle, he rushed forward numerous times to rescue the wounded and offer first aid. Wounded himself, he continued to offer aid until he was mortally wounded at point blank range. For his actions, he was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. He was the first dental technician in history to be awarded the Navy Cross. This award is given annually to a deserving enlisted hospital corpsman who deployed with a dental battalion in the Fleet Marine Force and was recognized by their seniors, subordinates and peers to be deserving of the award.

Sgt. Excer Rivera is an engineer platoon squad leader with Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group. Rivera talks about how he won Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter and NCO of the year. For his achievements and dedication as a NCO, Rivera also received a Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

Cpl. Coria Valle, a warehouse clerk with 1st Supply Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, talks about what makes his stand out as a Marine and his willingness to help others succeed. Valle won the Marine of the Year award and also received a Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal for all his hard work on and off duty.