A most embellished Simi Valley serviceman was among two special actions Marines killed Sunday, March 8, in a mountain regions of Iraq, Pentagon officials announced Tuesday.
Gunnery Sgt. Diego D. Pongo, 34, a crucial sciences adventurer, and Capt. Moises A. Navas, 34, of Germantown, Md ., a special business man, were both killed while contributing to Iraqi Security Forces.
Capt. Moises A. Navas, a special runnings polouse from Germantown, Md ., suffered lethal curves while accompanying Iraqi Security Impels during a mission to eliminate an ISIS stronghold in a mountainous area of north-central Iraq. He was 34 years old and assigned to 2nd Marine Raider Battalion.( photo courtesy of MARSOC)
Both Marines, who had multiple accolades for fearlessnes, served with the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, Marine Patrol Special Functioning Command located at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, N.C.
Pongo dished at Camp Pendleton as a young Marine.
The U.S. and Iraqi makes is currently in a “mission to eliminate an ISIS terrorist stronghold in a mountainous area of north-central Iraq, ” said the following statement from the Combined Joint Task Force- Operation Inherent Resolve.
On the evening of March 8, the U.S.-led faction launched added thrusts to recover the two U.S. assistance members from the southern Makhmur Mountains, about 60 kilometers south of Erbil, said Col. Myles B. Caggins III, a alignment military spokesman.
” The thrusts trekked through mountainous area and eliminated four hostile ISIS fighters who is currently barricaded in the caves ,” he said.” The recuperation took nearly six hours .”
Current approximates are that as many as 19 ISIS boxers were killed.
Pongo entered the Marine Corps in 2004 and spent his early years as a rifleman, deploying once with the 11 th Marine Expeditionary Unit before completing the Scout Sniper Basic Course in 2008. He deployed to the Helmand Province of Afghanistan with Camp Pendleton’s 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment as a sniper crew leader.
Pongo was then selected to attend the grueling nine-month Individual Training Course to become a critical talents hustler and made the begrudged Marine Special Operator Insignia in 2011.
During his eight years as a Marine Raider, Pongo completed deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, earning a Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device for intrepid acts against the antagonist in 2013 while deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
He likewise was apportioned a Purple heart, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Ribbon, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two Combat Action Ribbons, the Army Valorous Unit Award, four Good Conduct Medals, two Humanitarian Service Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and four Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.
Navas entered the Marine Corps in October 2004. He began serving with Marine Forces Special Running Command on Dec. 3, 2011. He was on his fifth deployment when he was killed.
During his eight years as a Marine Raider, Navas deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device for heroic wars against the adversary in 2013.
He too was apportioned a Purple Heart, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two Combat Action Ribbons, the Army Valorous Unit Award, four Good Conduct Medals, two Humanitarian Service Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and four Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.
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“On behalf of the members of the Marine Raider Regiment and all of( Marine Force Special Activity Command ), our most sincere condolences go out to the families of Gunnery Sgt. Pongo and Capt. Navas ,” Marine Raider Regiment Commanding Officer Col. John Lynch said in a statement.” The loss of these two incredible types is being felt across our constitution, but it cannot compare to the loss that family members and teammates are experiencing.
” Both people epitomize what it means to be a Marine Raider ,” he said.” They were intelligent, courageous and loyal. They were dedicated managers, true professionals in their ship, and willing to go above and beyond for members of the mission and their unit. They were not just chairmen today, the issue is both on the path to be our organization’s presidents in the future .”
Pongo will be posthumously apportioned with a Bronze Star with Combat “V” and a Purple heart, while Navas will receive a Bronze Star with Combat “V, ” a Purple Heart and a Combat Action Ribbon.
Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led fight against ISIS, started in 2014. Since it began, 17 U.S. military have been killed in action, according to the ministry of Defense.
On Aug. 10, Gunnery Sgt. Scott A. Koppenhafer, 35 , died after being engaged by “enemy small-arms fire” while accompanying Iraqi Security Thrusts on an operation in the Ninewah province.
Koppenhaver, of Mancos, Colo ., too served with the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion. He was part of a crew of Iraqi and U.S. corps conducting an operation against a believed ISIS target.
Read more: ocregister.com.