Hospital Corpsman Third Class Joshua Chiarini wanted to help the group in the lead vehicle who had just be hit.  As his vehicle moved closer, a much larger explosion tore into the men in the first Humvee.  “two 155-mm artillery shells hidden in a sandbag discharged deadly shrapnel through the air, slicing into them.”  Chiarini and his driver could not believe what they had just saw.  Then insurgents, watching from a cluster of buildings about 400 yards away, began shooting.  Chiarini could not tell what was happening because of all the smoke.  He threw down his radio handset and told his driver “Let’s go.”  The drive was so scared, he could not move.  Chiarini needed to save his Marines.  He left the Humvee and grabbed his medical bag and started running.  He did not bother to take his M16 rifle because he thought he probably wouldn’t make it that far before he got shot himself.  If he did make it to the Marines, he would be to busy to use his weapon.  “As he raced toward the Marines, he saws dirt kicking up near his feet.  They’re shooting at me.  Run faster!”

Evaluation-Justin Gerade