Marine receives Bronze Star for Iraq heroics - Marine Corps News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Marine Corps Times

Marine receives Bronze Star for Iraq heroics

An Arizona-based Marine received a Bronze Star with combat “V” in March for his actions last year in Iraq, according to a Marine news release.

Staff Sgt. Thomas Smythe Jr., an explosives ordnance disposal tech who serves with Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, is credited with saving two wounded Marines during a firefight Aug. 10 in northern Iraq. Moreover, “his actions resulted in the death of a suicide bomber,” the release states, referencing his award citation.

“A lot of stuff that I don’t want to think about happened that day,” Smythe, 27, said in the release, which notes that another Marine died during the battle. “But it helps to know that if I was in that same situation and needed help, the Marines I’m with would do the same for me.”

During his deployment, Smythe, a native of Honolulu, supervised six missions to dispose of improvised explosives, resulting in the destruction of more than 1,000 pieces of enemy ammo and 7,250 pounds of homemade bombs, according to the release.

“We are all extremely proud of him in the EOD community,” Master Gunnery Sgt. Carl Holden, MWSS-371 EOD staff noncomissioned officer in charge, said in the release. “His actions don’t surprise us. He has little regard for himself and looks out for the Marines to his left and right. … The Marine Corps is fortunate to have him.”