Zach Receives the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal

 

 

 

It reads:

FOR

MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS AN ENGINEER AND EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL ADVISOR, 1ST IRAQI ARMY DIVISION, MILITARY TRANSISTION TEAM, U.S. MARINE CORPS FORCES CENTRAL COMMAND IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, FROM 15 AUGUST 2009 TO 15 JUNE.  GUNNERY SERGEANT PANKEY WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 1ST IRAQI ARMY DIVISION’S FIELD ENGINEER REGIMENT, BOMB DISPOSAL COMPANY AND DIVISION TRAINING SECTION.  HE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO COORDINATE THE TRANSFER OF 11 CONFISCATED IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE INITIAORS AND TWO SA-7 ROCKETS FROM THE IRAQI ARMY TO U.S. FORCES FOR FURTHER EXPLOITATION.  HE PLANNED AND EXECUTED THE CONTROLLED DEMOLITION OF THREE ENEMY CACHES, THEREBY ELIMINATING OVER 230 CAPTURED EXPLOSIVE ITEMS.  GUNNERY SERGEANT PANKEY COORDINATED 78 BI-LATERAL TRAINING EVENTS BETWEEN THE 1ST IRAQI DIVISION AND U.S. FORCES THEREBY SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCING THE DIVISION’S READINESS LEVEL.  HE ALSO PERFORMED OVER 450 HOURS OF CONSTRUCTION WORK TO IMPROVE THE SAFTY AND SECURITY OF THE MILITARY TRAINING TEAM COMPOUND.  GUNNERY SERGEANT PANKEY’S EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONALISM, UNRELENTING PERSERVERANCE, AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE. 

 

 

 

I’m very proud of him!