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November 10, 2008

Marine to be honored

Robert W. Homer to get Silver Star

By Dan Linehan

MANKATO — A Mankato Marine will be awarded the Silver Star at a California ceremony in January for saving the lives of numerous wounded Marines and helping to lead his platoon during a 2005 battle in Iraq.

Gunnery Sgt. Robert W. Homer, 32, will receive the commendation for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy.”

“It brought me to tears with so much pride,” his father, Bill Homer, said after reading a citation describing his son’s actions. “I have it in front of me and I’m getting chills just looking at it.”

The letter, signed by Navy Secretary Donald Winter, tells the story.

On Nov. 16, 2005, 21 insurgents engaged Homer’s platoon with grenades and automatic fire from several well-fortified positions.

Homer repeatedly exposed himself to danger as he “saved three wounded Marines’ lives” by pulling them from the fight.

Then, “without regard for his own safety,” he rescued another Marine, fired his own weapon and directed the platoon’s weapons on their enemy.

Finally, Homer went back into the heart of the battle and provided first aid to a Marine who “lay severely wounded in the kill zone.”

After pulling that Marine back to safety, Homer refused medical treatment for his own wounds and continued evacuating others until he was himself ordered to board a plane collecting the wounded.

The letter (which references his rank at the time of the incident) is worth quoting at length:

“Staff Sergeant Homer’s valiant efforts saved numerous lives and inspired the elimination of 18 insurgents during the battle. By his bold leadership, selfless act of bravery, and total dedication to duty, Staff Sergeant Homer reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.”

Bill Homer said his son, who is now stationed at Camp Pendleton in California, has been on two seven-month deployments to Iraq. He is a 1996 graduate of East High School.

Homer visited his son just a few weeks ago but plans to go back for the Jan. 6 ceremony.

“It’s huge for a parent to hear that your son did something like that,” he said. “Of course, I gotta be there. I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

The Silver Star is the third-highest military commendation, below the Distinguished Service Cross and the Medal of Honor.

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