1st Marine Division Commanding General Maj. Gen. Ronald Bailey will present the Bronze Star Medal with combat distinguishing device to the family of Sgt. William Stacey on Camp Pendleton Friday.
Stacey, a section leader with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment died Jan. 31, 2011 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
On Nov. 26, 2011, the King, Wash. native's section received intense medium machine gun fire from three separate enemy locations. Stacey led his Marines through enemy fire to tactically advantageous terrain and personally moved 200 meters over exposed ground to mark his section's flanks in order to prevent fratricide.
On Dec. 13, 2011, Stacey's squad received fire from 10-12 enemy fighters from five separate fighting positions. Though outnumbered, Stacey and his squad held back numerous flanking attempts amidst accurate enemy 30mm grenades and large-caliber fire.
"Realizing his ammunition was running low he skillfully directed that his remaining rounds be used for obscuration as he maneuvered his squad out of the kill zone and back to the patrol base, unquestionably saving the lives of his Marines," reads Stacey's Bronze Star Medal award citation.
In addition to the Bronze Star Medal, Stacey's personal service awards include the Purple Heart Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze stardevices, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver stardevice and the NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan.
—1st Marine Division Public Affairs
