Marine Sergeant Holds Firing Line Twice

One of the key goals for remnants of the Taliban is to prevent a democratic government from succeeding in Afghanistan . In the Kunar province, the lead-up to the 2005 elections was a time of robust Coalition operations to thwart an increasingly brazen enemy. As part of a patrol, then-Cpl. Winegar and his platoon found themselves confronting numerous enemies who attacked by stealth and under the cover of darkness.

On the nights of both August 15th and 16th, insurgents ambushed Winegar’s convoy as it traversed the rugged Pech River Road . In both attacks, enemy fighters fired RPGs from a nearby ridgeline, followed by a hail of machine-gun fire. Winegar not only commanded the lead vehicle, but he manned its machine gun. On both nights, while cut off from his Combat Anti Armor Team, he unleashed his weapon on the ridgeline, holding back the Taliban to give the rest of his convoy time to set up a defense and return fire.
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(Photo: Marine Corps Sgt. Chadwick L. Winegar was twice awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a Combat “V” in August and September, 2006. )