Adametz, 21, a native of the Philippines, was determined that the Marines would not be defeated in the April 26, 2004, battle.
He dashed in front of the bullet-riddled building where the Marines were under heavy fire, grabbed a machine gun and began firing at the enemy.
With Adametz's covering fire, the Marines regrouped and the insurgents were repelled.
"I looked out there and saw this crazy maniac firing away so all the Marines could come back alive," said Lance Cpl. Carlos Gomez-Perez, who was severely wounded in the attack.
On Wednesday, in a ceremony in which he was praised as a "great warrior,"Adametz was awarded the Silver Star, the United States' third-highest award for combat bravery.
Dozens of Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment, 1st Marine Division have received commendations in the Fallujah campaign. But only Adametz received the Silver Star.
At Wednesday's ceremony, Adametz seemed slightly embarrassed at being called a hero. "All I wanted to do was protect my brother Marines," he said.
He leaves in July for a third tour of duty in the Persian Gulf region.
HoustonChronicle.com - Marine gets Silver Star for bravery at Fallujah
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