Fallen San Clemente Marine to be Awarded Navy Cross

Editor's note: This military-written story was provided by the DVIDs website.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will present the Navy Cross to the family of Lance Cpl. Donald J. Hogan Jan. 17 on base. 

Hogan, a rifleman with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, died in service to his fellow Marines during a foot patrol through Helmand province, Afghanistan, in 2009.

The San Clemente native was killed by an improvised explosive device he spotted in Nawa District. After identifying the threat, he alerted his squad mates in Alpha Company, pushed a Marine out of the blast zone, and was mortally wounded.

“Lance Corporal Hogan’s extreme act of selflessness saved a Marines life and allowed the rest of the squad to avoid the full brunt of the fragmentation from the improvised explosive device,” reads his Navy Cross citation.

In addition to the Navy Cross, Hogan’s personal awards include the Purple Heart Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon.

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