Pat Dollard

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JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — Sgt. Shawn Wilson says he owes his fellow Marines his life.

But the humble sheriff’s deputy, now in the Individual Ready Reserve, undoubtedly did for his Marines what he says they did for him.

During his seven-month deployment with Company C, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines — a Reserve unit based in Lansing, Mich. — Wilson disrupted and suppressed enemy forces on three occasions. His actions earned him the Bronze Star medal with combat “V” during a July 18 ceremony at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich.

The 28-year-old was a corporal when he was in Fallujah, a city he’d rather put behind him.

“I don’t like to talk about it a whole lot,” Wilson said. “I think about the guys a lot, actually. I just use them as motivation. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for those guys and other guys I served with. Whatever they say I did, I know I had a bunch of other Marines do the same thing.”

His unit had already taken a few casualties after arriving in Fallujah in September 2006. But his squad — made up mostly of Marines such as Wilson, who had never fought in combat — came in direct contact with the enemy Oct. 27.

Wilson’s squad was covering an adjacent squad from an observation post in the city’s souk district when the Marines spotted insurgents on a nearby rooftop, signaling other insurgents approaching a Marine patrol, according to Wilson’s citation.

“When he witnessed the enemy signal a second time in response to an adjacent squad, Corporal Wilson initiated engagement, killing two and disrupting the enemy attack,” the citation reads.

Five days later, on Nov. 1, Wilson was walking out of a house when a sniper’s bullet struck a magazine on his flak jacket, knocking him to the ground.

“I walked away completely unscathed,” he said. “That’s just luck right there, though.”

But luck didn’t motivate him to get back on his feet, maneuver his team on the enemy while under fire and provide covering fire while his team moved an injured Marine to safety.

“When you see a Marine that’s down or wounded, you just kind of refuse or allow that to happen,” he said.

His reaction that day “forced the insurgents to withdraw before they could inflict more damage,” according to the citation.

Just more than a month later, Wilson would again get his squad out of harm’s way. On Dec. 7, the Marines were on patrol when one was hit by a sniper. A full ambush ensued, leaving 3rd Squad taking fire from multiple directions.

Wilson spotted an insurgent firing at his squad and immediately began shooting back. His squad was able to get out of the kill zone, according to his citation.

Wilson separated from the Active Reserve on July 1, 2007. Now, he’s trying to get back in and rejoin the brotherhood he gives credit for the medal he earned.

“It’s a reflection of the Marines I served with,” he said.