Cpl.Gary A. Spangler LAR Bronze Star Kandahar

Cpl. Spangler received the Bronze Star for action under fire that make the book of odds spin crazy. All the M-16's in his fire team jam, except his. The machine gun was put out of action when the gunner tripped and fell. Down to 70 rounds of ammo Spangler's senior NCO took a hit and was out of action. One shot one kill.

"Thompson called out to the solitary figure: "We are Americans. We are Marines." He announced the Marines' presence because rules of engagement barred firing on unarmed civilians.

A split-second after Thompson spoke, he heard a distinct, metallic "click."

"The man on the boulder racked (cocked) an AK-47," Spangler said, "and opened fire."

Thompson put a shotgun blast in the man's chest before being struck in the thigh and groin by a ricocheting round. Spangler also fired and hit the suspected Taliban member. The man fell, blood-spattered and lifeless.

The ridge above them erupted in gunfire. The distinctive chatter of AK-47s and the boom of rocket-propelled grenades split the night air.

Thompson, who was knocked backward behind Spangler, cried out, "I've been hit." He told the Marines to "get the enemy."

Spangler remembers the flashes and the explosions and the smell of gunpowder. His sense of time was distorted by violence and adrenaline.

Payne jumped out and opened fire, trying to protect Thompson. "A minute later, I heard Payne say 'Ow ... I've been hit,'" Spangler said.

Spejcher rushed out, grabbed Payne's radio microphone and shouted "received contact, two casualties." He grabbed Payne under the arms and dragged him toward cover.

That frantic message got through. Eight miles away, other members of their platoon jumped into the vehicles and headed toward their embattled comrades.

But Spangler and the other scouts did not realize the call for help had been heard.

Spangler also didn't know that a heartbeat after the message was sent, a rocket-propelled grenade struck Payne in the chest and exploded, killing him and wounding the medic.

Spangler saw enemy combatants moving down the hill toward his left. With Thompson wounded and Payne silent, Spangler took charge of the scout squad.

As the Marines returned fire, things went from bad to worse. Rounds from the grenade launcher being fired by the medic took their toll, but it was apparent the machine gun was useless.

"It probably was damaged in the fall, and we didn't know it," Thompson said later.

Then one of the M-16s jammed.

"So here I am in this firefight, down to about 70 rounds and the only Marine left with a working weapon," Spangler said.

He returned fire carefully, remembering the deadly mantra: "One shot, one kill."

Two enemy combatants appeared on the same rock where the first man had been moments earlier. Spangler tossed a grenade. The ground shook, the explosion deafened him momentarily. That was the second time in his life he had thrown a grenade."

Tallahassee Democrat | 01/02/2005 | Local Marine honored with Bronze Star