Fribley Honored Posthumously On Armed Forces Day
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Armed Forces Day Saturday had a special meaning for the Fribley family of Atwood as Marine Cpl. David Fribley received two more military awards posthumously in a special ceremony.
Both awards were accepted on David's behalf by his parents, Garry and Linda Fribley, and his brother, Air Force A1C Steve Fribley.
Since David was part of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Maj. Tom McKee presented David's family with David's Presidential Unit Citation. The citation is the highest unit citation a Marine unit can receive. All men in Fribley's unit are entitled to wear the ribbon that comes with the citation. The citation was given to the unit because for a 33-day period, the unit distinguished itself in combat during Iraqi Operation Freedom and provided humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people, McKee said.
The second military award David Fribley received is the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, given for heroic action in combat.
Fribley, a Warsaw Community High School graduate, died from enemy fire last year. He was one of 18 Marines killed March 23, 2003, in fighting around the city of Nasiriyah, Iraq. He was helping to secure an area on the battlefield by a road near a bridge along a canal when he was hit. The area, while considered part of Nasiriyah, was just outside the city.
Fribley, a member of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, was the first Hoosier to be killed in the Iraq war in the line of duty.
Maj. McKee told the sparse crowd Saturday there are three different main awards given in the military. The first is personal, given to a member of the military for a specific act or set of acts. The second type is a unit award. Third, a service award denotes service during a specific campaign, war or time period.
The awards presented to Fribley Saturday represent personal (Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal) and unit (Presidential Unit Citation), McKee said.
After Fribley was killed in combat last year, he received the Purple Heart.
Saturday's awards, McKee said, "honor the life of Lance Cpl. David Fribley."
Before Fribley was killed in battle, McKee said, Fribley showed heroism and courage, repeatedly exposing himself to attacks to assist his unit.
"Personally," McKee said, "it has been an honor and a privilege" to get to know the Fribleys and present the awards to them.
After the awards ceremony, Garry Fribley said, "We're doing real good. We'll be with David someday. We are very proud of the things he did, the things they told us he did and of the other men (who served with him)."
The U.S. has hundreds of thousands of men and women in the armed services stationed in Iraq. Approximately 700 soldiers have died in Iraq.
"We have to be proud of all the men and women" who are fighting to keep us free, Garry said. "We have to be proud of all the men and women in uniform. We've got to be proud of all them who are sticking their necks out to allow us to do what we are doing." [[In-content Ad]]
Armed Forces Day Saturday had a special meaning for the Fribley family of Atwood as Marine Cpl. David Fribley received two more military awards posthumously in a special ceremony.
Both awards were accepted on David's behalf by his parents, Garry and Linda Fribley, and his brother, Air Force A1C Steve Fribley.
Since David was part of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Maj. Tom McKee presented David's family with David's Presidential Unit Citation. The citation is the highest unit citation a Marine unit can receive. All men in Fribley's unit are entitled to wear the ribbon that comes with the citation. The citation was given to the unit because for a 33-day period, the unit distinguished itself in combat during Iraqi Operation Freedom and provided humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people, McKee said.
The second military award David Fribley received is the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, given for heroic action in combat.
Fribley, a Warsaw Community High School graduate, died from enemy fire last year. He was one of 18 Marines killed March 23, 2003, in fighting around the city of Nasiriyah, Iraq. He was helping to secure an area on the battlefield by a road near a bridge along a canal when he was hit. The area, while considered part of Nasiriyah, was just outside the city.
Fribley, a member of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, was the first Hoosier to be killed in the Iraq war in the line of duty.
Maj. McKee told the sparse crowd Saturday there are three different main awards given in the military. The first is personal, given to a member of the military for a specific act or set of acts. The second type is a unit award. Third, a service award denotes service during a specific campaign, war or time period.
The awards presented to Fribley Saturday represent personal (Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal) and unit (Presidential Unit Citation), McKee said.
After Fribley was killed in combat last year, he received the Purple Heart.
Saturday's awards, McKee said, "honor the life of Lance Cpl. David Fribley."
Before Fribley was killed in battle, McKee said, Fribley showed heroism and courage, repeatedly exposing himself to attacks to assist his unit.
"Personally," McKee said, "it has been an honor and a privilege" to get to know the Fribleys and present the awards to them.
After the awards ceremony, Garry Fribley said, "We're doing real good. We'll be with David someday. We are very proud of the things he did, the things they told us he did and of the other men (who served with him)."
The U.S. has hundreds of thousands of men and women in the armed services stationed in Iraq. Approximately 700 soldiers have died in Iraq.
"We have to be proud of all the men and women" who are fighting to keep us free, Garry said. "We have to be proud of all the men and women in uniform. We've got to be proud of all them who are sticking their necks out to allow us to do what we are doing." [[In-content Ad]]