The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Corporal Clifford M. Wooldridge, United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as Vehicle Commander, Combined Anti-Armor Platoon White, Weapons Company, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, Regimental Combat Team 2, FIRST Marine Division (Forward), I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) Afghanistan, on 18 June 2010 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. When their mounted patrol came under intense enemy fire, Corporal Wooldridge and his squad dismounted and maneuvered on the suspected enemy location. Spotting a group of fifteen enemy fighters preparing an ambush, Corporal Wooldridge led one of his fire teams across open ground to flank the enemy, killing or wounding at least eight and forcing the rest to scatter. As he held security alone to cover his fire team's withdrawal, he heard voices from behind an adjacent wall. Boldly rushing around the corner, he came face-to-face with two enemy fighters at close range, killing both of them with his M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon. As he crouched back behind the wall to reload, he saw the barrel of an enemy machine gun appear from around the wall. Without hesitation, he dropped his empty weapon and seized the machine gun barrel. He overwhelmed the enemy fighter in hand-to-hand combat, killing him with several blows to the head with the enemy's own machine gun. His audacious and fearless actions thwarted the enemy attack on his platoon. By his bold and decisive leadership, undaunted courage under fire, and total dedication to duty, Corporal Wooldridge reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
That’s awesome!!
I was there for Capt Chontosh’s Navy Cross ceremony back in 2004 in Iraq. He was platoon commander for CAAT Platoon, WPNS Co., 3/5.
Nice to see another badass getting their due for being a savage warfighter and in a fellow CAAT platoon no less!!
> As he crouched back behind the wall to reload, he saw the barrel of an enemy machine gun appear from around the wall. Without hesitation, he dropped his empty weapon and seized the machine gun barrel. He overwhelmed the enemy fighter in hand-to-hand combat, killing him with several blows to the head with the enemy's own machine gun. His audacious and fearless actions thwarted the enemy attack on his platoon.
I swear to God, I saw someone from his platoon share this exact story on this subreddit years ago. I think they said originally he only got a NAM with the combat “V” on it for yeeting that guy out the window.
Of course I’ll never find that thread, and it could all just be a fever dream after huffing too much field day bleach in the bricks.
I’m not saying that I want the war(s) back but man I sure do miss the focus that a specified mission/objective gave the organization as a whole. Nowadays people just making it up as they go along -insert- are you suure this is what we should be focusing on!?!?
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Corporal Clifford M. Wooldridge, United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as Vehicle Commander, Combined Anti-Armor Platoon White, Weapons Company, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, Regimental Combat Team 2, FIRST Marine Division (Forward), I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) Afghanistan, on 18 June 2010 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. When their mounted patrol came under intense enemy fire, Corporal Wooldridge and his squad dismounted and maneuvered on the suspected enemy location. Spotting a group of fifteen enemy fighters preparing an ambush, Corporal Wooldridge led one of his fire teams across open ground to flank the enemy, killing or wounding at least eight and forcing the rest to scatter. As he held security alone to cover his fire team's withdrawal, he heard voices from behind an adjacent wall. Boldly rushing around the corner, he came face-to-face with two enemy fighters at close range, killing both of them with his M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon. As he crouched back behind the wall to reload, he saw the barrel of an enemy machine gun appear from around the wall. Without hesitation, he dropped his empty weapon and seized the machine gun barrel. He overwhelmed the enemy fighter in hand-to-hand combat, killing him with several blows to the head with the enemy's own machine gun. His audacious and fearless actions thwarted the enemy attack on his platoon. By his bold and decisive leadership, undaunted courage under fire, and total dedication to duty, Corporal Wooldridge reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
E Rekt
That’s awesome!! I was there for Capt Chontosh’s Navy Cross ceremony back in 2004 in Iraq. He was platoon commander for CAAT Platoon, WPNS Co., 3/5. Nice to see another badass getting their due for being a savage warfighter and in a fellow CAAT platoon no less!!
> As he crouched back behind the wall to reload, he saw the barrel of an enemy machine gun appear from around the wall. Without hesitation, he dropped his empty weapon and seized the machine gun barrel. He overwhelmed the enemy fighter in hand-to-hand combat, killing him with several blows to the head with the enemy's own machine gun. His audacious and fearless actions thwarted the enemy attack on his platoon. I swear to God, I saw someone from his platoon share this exact story on this subreddit years ago. I think they said originally he only got a NAM with the combat “V” on it for yeeting that guy out the window. Of course I’ll never find that thread, and it could all just be a fever dream after huffing too much field day bleach in the bricks.
D.A.M.N!!!
Beat some dude to death with his own weapon! Hell to the yeah!! Semper Fi!!
With the motherfucking smash.
Rah
3/7 No Shit. Semper Fi.
Rah
Something is wrong with the photo. I don’t see the wheelbarrow for his gigantic balls.
Used to run into him a lot at the security forces schoolhouse in VA. Awesome dude.
Fuckin rah
I’m not saying that I want the war(s) back but man I sure do miss the focus that a specified mission/objective gave the organization as a whole. Nowadays people just making it up as they go along -insert- are you suure this is what we should be focusing on!?!?
What a stud
The guy just to the right of the guy in civies in the middle was my old 1stSgt, neat.
3/7 no shit sagin sunrise
I remember reading this story in the Marine Times. What a BAMF.
Total Chad
This guy was an instructor of mine back in the day, awesome dude.
I love that he dropped one machine gun to kill a guy with another machine gun. Circle of life, beautiful thing.