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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — An Iraqi reporter from Al Jazeera met his worst nightmare and possibly his best friend when he was caught in the crossfire while covering combat operations.
The journalist, whose name wasn’t available, was reporting on the actions of the First Iraqi Army Division when he was struck by incoming small arms fire, leaving him severely injured and unconscious in full view of more enemy fire.
Iraqi Army medics were hesitant to provide assistance to the reporter due to his insecure position. This was not the case for Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan P. Faulhaber, a hospital corpsman serving with Military Transition Team 111 of 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division. Despite the high rate of continuous enemy fire, Faulhaber made his way to the casualty and proceeded to provide medical aid.
“The other Iraqis in the area did brave things during our time with them, but on that particular occasion, none of the Iraqis were willing to assist the wounded reporter,” said Maj. Mark Slusher, who served as Faulhaber’s team leader in Iraq. “Faulhaber did not hesitate for a moment. There is no better example to set for courage under fire than him.”
Enemy insurgents noticed the Faribault, Minnesota native’s lonely effort and began to increase their rate of fire in an attempt to take him down. Faulhaber ignored the personal risk and continued to calmly provide treatment as rounds impacted the terrain around him. He quickly stabilized the reporter and slowly made his way back to the casualty collection point with the journalist in tow. Iraqi translators later informed Faulhaber that the reporter lived.
The transition team participated in all four of the major insurgency clearing operations that comprised the Basra campaign for the following three weeks. During this time, the Iraqi battalion suffered 25 casualties, and the MTT suffered five. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Ian Anthony, the administrative advisor for the MTT, said that Faulhaber was personally responsible for providing life care to more than 15 of the casualties, in addition to supervising the Iraqi medics’ care of the remaining casualties.
“His prompt and effective medical treatment saved the lives of at least five of the more seriously wounded Iraqi soldiers,” Anthony said.
This wasn’t the last instance of heroism that Faulhaber would exhibit during his service with the Iraqis. Elements of the MTT were exiting the Basra city limits April 24 after conducting a combat patrol when one of the team’s vehicles was attacked by an explosively formed penetrator, which is an improvised explosive device commonly used to penetrate armor at stand-off distances. The device destroyed the vehicles and wounded all five members inside.
Faulhaber was one of the first service members to reach the burning vehicle. The fire quickly began to ignite the ammunition inside, producing a toxic smoke. He ignored this and the incoming enemy fire and proceeded to help remove casualties from the vehicle.
“We had five casualties, which was 30 percent of our operation force strength,” said Slusher, a native of Lebanon, New Jersey. “Same thing again, courage under fire, total disregard for his own safety, vehicle’s on fire, yet doc is totally focused on providing care to our wounded comrades.”
Anthony said two of the vehicle’s occupants were critically wounded. He said Faulhaber’s actions were credited with saving both Marines’ lives.
Faulhaber returned from Iraq in August and now serves as the assistant leading petty officer for the operations section of 2nd Medical Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group. He was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with a combat distinguishing device, Nov. 19, for his actions in Iraq. He said there is now talk that he may receive a combat meritorious promotion to the rank of petty officer first class. Regardless of the outcome, Faulhaber remains modest and unregretful about his actions.
"Faulhaber had a big impact on the Iraqis," Slusher said. "During our time with them, we saw a significant change in their skills and professionalism. That really goes to the heart about being a good advisor. The Iraqi medics are now better trained and more able to care for the Iraqi soldiers, and frankly, many of them are alive today because of Faulhaber."
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