Bradley Kasal Bradley Kasal ( born 1966 in Marengo , Iowa ) is a Sergeant Major in the United States Marine Corps who received the Navy Cross for heroic actions performed as the First Sergeant of Weapons Company , 3rd Battalion , 1st Marines during a firefight in Operation Phantom Fury in Fallujah , Iraq on November 13 , 2004 . On May 1 , 2006 , in a ceremony at Camp Pendleton , Kasal was awarded the Navy Cross , followed by his promotion to Sergeant Major and reenlistment in the Marine Corps . Actions in Iraq . In a fire fight in a house in Fallujah , although wounded by seven 7 . 62x39mm rounds and hit by more than 43 pieces of hot fragmentation from a grenade while using his body to shield an injured fellow Marine , Kasal refused to quit fighting and is credited with saving the lives of several Marines during the U . S . assault on insurgent strongholds in Fallujah in November 2004 . By the time he was carried out of the house by LCpl Chris Marquez and LCpl Dane Shaffer , Kasal had lost approximately 60 percent of his blood . The photograph of Kasal , taken by photographer Lucian Read — blood - soaked and still holding his M9 pistol and KA - Bar fighting knife — being helped from the building by fellow Marines , has become one of the iconic pictures of the war . Recovery . Due to the injuries , Kasal lost four inches of bone in his right leg . Kasal has undergone 21 surgeries to date in order to repair his injuries and save his leg . Kasal continues his recovery from his wounds and still walks with a limp . Sergeant Major Kasal served as the Sergeant Major of Recruiting Station Des Moines , Iowa from May 2006 until January 2010 . He then returned to Camp Pendleton to serve as the Sergeant Major at the School of Infantry West In March 2010 , Kasal was featured in the debut episode of " Sharing the Courage " , a graphic novel series depicting decorated Marines of the 21st century . Navy Cross citation . The President of the United States Takes Pleasure in Presenting The Navy Cross To Bradley A . Kasal First Sergeant , United States Marine Corps For Services as Set Forth in the Following Citation : For extraordinary heroism while serving as First Sergeant , Weapons Company , 3d Battalion , 1st Marine Regiment , Regimental Combat Team 1 , 1st Marine Division , I Marine Expeditionary Force , U . S . Marine Corps Forces Central Command in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 13 November 2004 . First Sergeant Kasal was assisting 1st Section , Combined Anti - Armor Platoon as they provided a traveling over watch for 3d Platoon when he heard a large volume of fire erupt to his immediate front , shortly followed by Marines rapidly exiting a structure . When First Sergeant Kasal learned that Marines were pinned down inside the house by an unknown number of enemy personnel , he joined a squad making entry to clear the structure and rescue the Marines inside . He made entry into the first room , immediately encountering and eliminating an enemy insurgent , as he spotted a wounded Marine in the next room . While moving towards the wounded Marine , First Sergeant Kasal and another Marine came under heavy rifle fire from an elevated enemy firing position and were both severely wounded in the legs , immobilizing them . When insurgents threw grenades in an attempt to eliminate the wounded Marines , he rolled on top of his fellow Marine and absorbed the shrapnel with his own body . When First Sergeant Kasal was offered medical attention and extraction , he refused until the other Marines were given medical attention . Although severely wounded himself , he shouted encouragement to his fellow Marines as they continued to clear the structure . By his bold leadership , wise judgment , and complete dedication to duty , First Sergeant Kasal reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service .