Lance Cpl. Mark J. Suetos, of Eugene, Ore., displays

Lance Cpl. Mark J. Suetos, of Eugene, Ore., displays his Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with combat distinguishing device after an awards ceremony Sept. 30. The scout sniper with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, received the award for heroic achievement in the superior performance of duties while serving as an assistant team leader from April to October 2011. Suetos distinguished himself throughout his deployment. In one instance he rescued a Marine who was injured by an improvised explosive device blast July 18, bringing him to the evacuation helicopter despite the risk of additional IEDs in the area. In another incident, Suetos fearlessly maneuvered to gain a dominant position on the battlefield in the face of heavy enemy machine gun and small-arms fire during an enemy ambush which mortally wounded two Marines Aug. 7. He eliminated the enemy threat through exceptional marksmanship and then skillfully adjusted mortars onto enemy firing positions, allowing for a quick reaction force to maneuver from his platoon’s patrol base and evacuate the fallen Marines. The 26-year-old Suetos, a graduate of Winston Churchill High School in Eugene, has also deployed to Iraq. He said the best part of being deployed is having the opportunity to work with such a close-knit group of Marines. The 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, is currently assigned to Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), which heads Task Force Leatherneck. The task force serves as the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest) and works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Force and the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.