Two Bronze Stars with V awarded - Marine Corps News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Marine Corps Times

Two Bronze Stars with V awarded

A platoon sergeant and a squad leader at Camp Pendleton, Calif., are each receiving the Bronze Star with “V” device for decisive actions while under fire in Afghanistan last year.

Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Biello and Sgt. Timothy G. Eannarino were scheduled to receive the medals today during a July 16 ceremony at the Camp San Mateo headquarters of 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. Biello, a platoon sergeant with 1/5’s Charlie Company, and Eannarino, first squad leader with Bravo Company’s second platoon, deployed last year as part of Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan.

Biello operated with Regimental Combat Team 7 in Nawa district and, over a five-month period, led Charlie Company’s mobile heavy weapons section through seven firefights and on 225 mounted operations that yielded six weapons caches, found 24 improvised explosive devices and evacuated six casualties. Twice in June 2009, Biello led his men through battles, drawing enemy fire himself, so his gunners could target the insurgents.

Eannarino led his men over a six-day period in June 2009 and again through a complex ambush Aug. 13, 2009, when he led a team across open terrain while under enemy fire to rescue two urgent casualties in need of evacuation. Again, a month later, he coordinated the evacuation of a casualty while under enemy fire.