Photos

Warrant Officer John Hermann, 32, from Tucson, Ariz., explosive ordnance disposal officer for 1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), is congratulated by Brig. Gen. Charles L. Hudson, commanding general of 1st MLG (FWD), after being awarded the Silver Star medal in a ceremony at Forward Operating Base Delaram II, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, July 15. In February 2008, Hermann was deployed to Afghanistan as an EOD technician when his element came under enemy fire in the village of Dahaneh, Afghanistan. One of his fellow Marines was shot in the leg while running behind him. Ignoring his own shrapnel wounds from a rocket propelled grenade, Hermann “single-handedly destroyed the enemy assailants, and then crossed back through the machine gun fire of another enemy position in order to treat his fallen comrade,” according to his Silver Star citation. He applied a tourniquet to the wounded Marine’s leg, then took charge of the Marines to establish a security cordon and evacuate the Marine to safety. Hermann was later promoted to gunnery sergeant and then selected for the warrant officer program. He has served in the Marine Corps 14 years.