A Weapons Company outpost was attacked by a suicide vehicle-borne IED, resulting in structural damage and no injuries. Source — First Marine Division Press Release
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News
Marine’s Quick Thinking Saves Lives
By Sgt. Roe F. Seigle
1st Marine Division
BAGHDADI, Iraq, Aug. 29, 2006 — A Marine’s quick thinking, coupled with a series of well-aimed shots, saved lives July 27, according to Marines and Iraqi soldiers serving here.
Cpl. Jeff Globis’ split-second decision to verbally warn near-by Marines and Iraqi soldiers of an approaching suicide bomber while he was standing post at a military outpost here allowed others to avoid a potentially life-threatening explosion.
Manning an observation point at the combat outpost, the 23-year-old infantryman saw the speeding truck break through the base’s protective barriers. Globis opened fire on the vehicle, which was loaded with hundreds of pounds of explosives, and warned others to take cover – acts which many here said saved their lives.
Globis, a team leader assigned to the Hawaii-based Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, said he knew the truck was a suicide bomber as soon as it turned a corner and attempted to drive through the outpost’s protective barriers.
“I only had a few seconds to act, so I fired four shots through the windshield as soon as he crashed through the first protective barrier,” said Globis, a native of Winthrop Harbor, Ill. “When the truck stopped, I warned all the Marines and soldiers to move as far away from the front of the building as possible.”
Globis’ determinations were soon confirmed – the truck detonated and part of the roof of the outpost collapsed. No Marines or soldiers were killed because they had time to move away, avoiding the brunt of the blast, thanks to Globis’ warning.
However, Globis, a 2002 graduate of Zion Benton High School, refuses to take credit for saving the Marines and soldiers that day because he “was just doing what any Marine would have done in that situation.”
Staff Sgt. Richard Charley, 29, disagreed and said that many Marines and soldiers are still alive because of his quick thinking.
“Globis saved several peoples’ lives that day,” said Charley, a platoon sergeant. “He eliminated the driver of that vehicle before he could penetrate further into the compound and completely destroy the building.”
Globis will be awarded for his actions that day, but it is undetermined which award he will receive, said Charley, a native of Bishop, Calif.
This is not the first time Globis has potentially saved other Marines’ or soldiers’ lives since he deployed to Iraq in March.
A few weeks prior to the suicide bombing, Globis was riding in a Humvee during a patrol through the city. Moments before the Humvee drove over a pressure-detonated improvised explosive device, Globis said he noticed it from the corner of his eye and had the driver stop.
Upon inspection, Globis and the other Marines noticed the front tire of the vehicle was literally inches away from the roadside bomb.
“Globis has been exposed to a lot of danger since he arrived in Iraq, but he has remained dependable and mature,” said Charley. “Because of this, his subordinates and I have the utmost confidence in him.”
Recently, Globis was selected to be an infantry advisor for the Military Transition Team here. Now he spends his days training Iraqi soldiers – who are making notable progress as they continue to move towards operating independent of his unit’s support, he said.
“The soldiers are stepping up and taking charge when we are on patrol,” said Globis. “They want to succeed.”
“Ahmed,” a soldier who was slightly injured in the blast from the suicide bomber said Globis is a great leader and motivates the soldiers to fight the insurgency. He also said that he is alive today because Globis saved his life that day.
“I would have been killed if Globis did not give that warning,” said Ahmed. “Marines like Globis have earned our loyalty and respect and we feel privileged to fight alongside them.”
Globis said he enjoys working with the soldiers and has learned good leadership skills, like patience and mentoring, because there is a language barrier between them and sometimes he has to teach the soldiers the same task more than once.
“The reason we selected Globis to work with the soldiers is because he is one of the most dependable and mature Marines in the company and accomplishes difficult missions, like leading soldiers on patrols, with little or no supervision,” said Charley.
Globis, and the rest of the Marines in 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, also known as “America’s Battalion,” are scheduled to return to Hawaii this fall and be replaced by another Hawaii-based unit.