Joshua Chiarini was a hospital Corpsman Third Class in the United States Army.  One morning,  Chiarini was riding shotgun in the third of a four-vehicle convoy sent out to do a routine IED sweep. The group was to check the road for hidden bombs. ” Chiarini’s group was one of more than a dozen out that day hunting down insurgents and protection supply roads through the region.”  Around 11an, on a section of the road considered extremely dangerous, Chiarini heard a loud boom near the lead Humvee.  He could tell by the sound, it was a small explosion.  He was too far back to see what was going on because of all the smoke.  He turned to the driver and said, “Let’s go check it out and make sure they’re all right.”  The front vehicle carried four Marines and an interpreter named Kenny.  The vehicle encountered an IED.  They stopped and got out of the vehicle to take up their defensive positions.  The gunner stayed in the turret to provide cover fire.  Chiarini was several hundred yards away and saw them get out.  He wanted his group to go help.

Justin Gerade-Evaluation