DI awarded Navy Cross for actions in Afghanistan

DI awarded Navy Cross for actions in Afghanistan
Submitted by: MCRD Parris Island
Story Identification #: 200632123837
Story by Cpl. Darhonda Rodela



MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. (Feb. 24, 2006) -- Most people cannot remember what they were doing the day of June 3, 2004, but for Staff Sgt. Anthony Viggiani, the past is as clear as the present.

Viggiani, a 3rd Recruit Training Battalion drill instructor, was awarded the Navy Cross February 24 for his actions in Afghanistan on June 3, 2004.

Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) were conducting cordon-and-knock operations in a village when a pair of Army Apache helicopters spotted approximately 20-armed insurgents fleeing to the hills.

Charlie Company immediately pursued on foot.

"On that day, we were going on convoys and were receiving intelligence reports all day," Viggiani said reflecting upon the day in Afghanistan. "It wasn't any different from the other days at all."

Viggiani ventured into details as he remembered the exciting events.
"We saw about twenty insurgents with weapons going up the valley," stated the Strongsville, Ohio native.

He knew there would be action and was just waiting for the "go" from his superiors.

"We got the word to 'go' and I said 'aye sir.' First and third squad went to the right while second took the left," Viggiani said demonstrating with his hands the route the infantrymen took.

"As we were moving up through the valley, third squad moved to the right flank while [first] squad moved straight ahead.

From there we picked up and held position while the rest of the company caught up to our position."

Viggiani then moved his second fire team to the left and first fire team to the right so that they would have interlocking fields of fire through the valley.

"The second fire team started taking fire from the enemy insurgents, the fire team returned fire and ended the enemy insurgents' firing."

Everything suddenly calmed down and Viggiani told his first sergeant that he would move to check on his first fire team just to see how they were positioned and to make sure everything was all right.

"I had finally got to my [fire team], but not even a minute later, the first sergeant was on the radio, telling me 'Get down here, I need a [fragmentation grenade] I need a [fragmentation grenade] now!'"

Viggiani quickly rushed to the first sergeant.

Two Marines were injured approximately 100 meters away, on the slope opposite the valley Viggiani and his Marines were on.

"I had got to first sergeant and I was asking him 'Where are they, where are they?' He told me my second fire team was pinned down pretty hard, then pointed in the general direction of where the machine gun firing was coming from."
Viggiani pursued in the pointed direction down the mountain in search for his team and to neutralize the threat from the enemy.

"As I was moving down, I saw a hole, it wasn't big. If you took of all of your gear maybe you could slip into it. I looked and I saw some fabric. I shot three rounds in the hole and something moved, and then I shot four more rounds and threw a grenade in the hole and pinned myself against a rock."

What seemed like a hole to Viggiani was in reality a cave where three armed insurgents were firing upon his squad from.

"I never knew the cave was right there, I didn't know anything... I just knew I had to keep a promise I made to my boys," Viggiani said affectionately, referring to his squad members as his boys. "I had promised to bring them all back home."

Viggiani said his company commander called for a medical evacuation where two of his Marines were taken into medical care, but he denied his injured status.

"I had blood on my leg, but I didn't want to leave. I did not want to leave the other Marines," he said when asked why he didn't go to the battalion's landing team command post.

In the process, Viggiani was wounded by rifle fire from the adjacent enemy position, yet he continued to lead his Marines in the attack as stated in Viggiani's citation.

After killing the three hidden insurgents, Viggiani continued with his squad and defeated the enemy by killing a total of 14 Anti-Coalition fighters.
After the hectic day, Viggiani's parents received a phone call later from one of his friends in the platoon.

"I didn't want to tell [my mom] because I knew she would be upset," Viggiani said. "But when I did call her, out of the five minutes I got to talk to her, three and a half were spent calming her down."

Later that night, Viggiani's company held a non-commissioned officer's night.

"I was the guest of honor for Charlie Company," Viggiani said smiling. "My commanding officer told them what I had done and I got a standing ovation from all of my peers... That meant more to me than anything."

Twenty-five year old Viggiani received the second highest award in the Marine Corps, only succeeded by the Medal of Honor.

The Navy Cross may be awarded to any person who, while serving in time of war with the Navy or Marine Corps distinguishes himself in action by extraordinary heroism not justifying an award of the Medal of Honor.

According to SECNAVINST 1650.1G, the action must take place under one of three circumstances: while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or, while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

To warrant this distinctive decoration, the act to be commended must be performed in the presence of great danger or at great personal risk and must be performed in such a manner as to set the individual apart from his or her shipmates or fellow Marines. An accumulation of minor acts of heroism does not justify the award. The high standards demanded must be borne in mind when recommending the award.

"You will never know what you can do until you are put in the situation," Viggiani said. "Individuals will rise or fall to the occasion. You don't know who will save your life."

Viggiani did not know he was going to be awarded a Navy Cross, in fact, he had thought he was put in for a Bronze Star, which he later found out would possibly be a Silver Star.

The pleasant surprise came to him almost a year later.

"It wasn't one individual action; my boys had played a huge role and so did the training we received," Viggiani said. "I also had two of the best team leaders a squad leader could ask for."


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Photos included with story: Staff Sgt. Anthony L. Viggiani, a drill instructor with India Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, is congratulated by Brig. Gen. Richard T. Tryon, commanding general, MCRD Parris Island/Eastern Recruiting Region, and Sgt. Maj. Robert C. Hollings, Depot sergeant major, upon receiving the Navy Cross, during recruit graduation Feb. 24, for gallant actions in Afghanistan. Photo by: Cpl. Maryalice Leone

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