Sean Stokes

Sean Andrew Stokes (February 6, 1983 - July 30, 2007) was a United States Marine who posthumously received the Silver Star for actions while serving with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines during the Second Battle of Fallujah.[4][5][6]

Sean Andrew Stokes
Stokes in 2007
Nickname(s)"Pathfinder"[1]
Born(1983-02-06)February 6, 1983
Fremont, California[2]
DiedJuly 30, 2007(2007-07-30) (aged 24)
Taqaddum, Iraq
Buried
Janesville Cemetery[3]
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service2001–2007
Rank Corporal
Unit3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division
Battles/warsIraq War
Awards Silver Star
Purple Heart x3
Combat Action Ribbon
Good Conduct Medal
Websitewww.sasmemorial.org

Career

Stokes enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.[6]

Court Martial

In early 2004, then-Lance Corporal Stokes left his unit without permission in order to help a family member escape from domestic violence. After moving her to a new house, Stokes returned to Camp Pendleton and was subsequently court martialled, reduced to the rank of Private, and transferred to Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines (3/1).[7]

Fallujah

A few months after arriving at 3/1, Stokes deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, where in November 2004, he participated in Operation Phantom Fury.[6][8][1]

Haditha

In 2005, Stokes returned to Iraq, this time near the city of Haditha.[7]

Tharthar

3/1 deployed again in 2007, and Stokes, by now a Corporal, was selected to serve on the Battalion Commander's Personal Security Detachment.[7]

Awards and Honors
 
Silver Star
3 Purple Hearts Combat Action Ribbon Navy Unit Commendation
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal National Defense Service Medal Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 campaign stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 2 service stars

Death

On 30 July 2007, while escorting the Battalion Commander across 3/1's Area of Operations in Iraq's Tharthar region, the convoy came to a section of road which had been rendered impassable by an improvised explosive device (IED) several days prior. Following protocol, Stokes dismounted his vehicle and began sweeping the surrounding area before attempting to move the convoy around the crater. However, he failed to see the well-concealed IED below him, which detonated when he stepped on it, wounding him fatally.[1][9]

Military historian Patrick K. O'Donnell was embedded with Stokes' platoon for one year leading up to and during their deployment to Fallujah, and Stokes is a prominent figure in his 2006 non-fiction book We Were One: Shoulder to Shoulder with the Marines Who Took Fallujah.[6]

Shootout!

In 2006, Stokes was featured in an episode of "Shootout!" on the History Channel entitled "D-Day: Fallujah", wherein his actions in 2004 are dramatized while he and other Marines recount the details.[8]

Silver Star Citation

The President of the United States

Takes Pleasure in Presenting The Silver Star (Posthumously) To

Sean Andrew Stokes

Corporal, United States Marine Corps

For Services as Set Forth in the Following Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Rifleman, First Platoon, Company L, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, from 9 November 2004 to 18 November 2004, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 03-05. Throughout nine days of high intensity urban combat in Fallujah, Corporal Stokes fought as his unit's point man, requiring him to repeatedly be the first man to engage enemy forces. On 9 and 11 November, Corporal Stokes led a four-man element into a building held by armed enemy. As they entered the building, his element was engaged with automatic rifle fire from within. Fearless in the face of danger, Corporal Stokes pressed forward in the close confines of the building against the enemy fire and killed the insurgent before his fellow Marines could be injured. On 17 November, an enemy hand grenade exploded beneath Corporal Stokes as he cleared a small house, severely wounding him. Though dazed and wounded from the blast, and rather than attempting to save himself and exit the building, he chose to ensure the Marines around him were protected and began suppressing the enemy within the house with his rifle. The fire he provided allowed the rest of his team to reach a covered position outside the house, where they organized an assault and reentered the building, killing the enemy in a counterattack. Corporal Stokes fought through Fallujah with the resolve of closing on the enemy, while protecting the Marines around him at all costs. By his extraordinary heroism in the face of extreme danger, zealous initiative, and exceptional dedication to duty, Corporal Stokes reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.[10]

gollark: And possibly computer vision.
gollark: Yes, I'm going to investigate higher powered/better motors.
gollark: I realized it would be annoying to carry and I couldn't do much with it.
gollark: The chaßßis? No, it is in school.
gollark: Does anyone know what motors are in use *now*?

References
  1. Hurt, Andy (11 August 2007). "Young legend killed in Al Anbar province". Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  2. 2008 Congressional Record, Vol. 154, Page S615 (February 5, 2008)
  3. "Sean A. Stokes, 24". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  4. "U.S. MARINE CORPS RECIPIENTS OF THE SILVER STAR MEDAL For Actions Since September 11, 2001". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  5. "Valor awards for Sean Andrew Stokes". Military Times. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  6. O'Donnell, Patrick K. (2006). We Were One: Shoulder to Shoulder with the Marines Who Took Fallujah (1st ed.). Cambridge, Mass.: Da Capo. ISBN 978-0-306-81573-7.
  7. O'Donnell, Patrick. "Saving of Private Stokes" (PDF). Sean Andrew Stokes Memorial. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  8. "D-Day: Fallujah". Shootout!. Season 1. History Channel.
  9. "IED EXPLOSION(IED) ATTK ON BLT 3/1 IVO (ROUTE LINCOLN ): 1 CF WIA 1 CF KIA 3 AIF DET". WikiLeaks. 30 July 2007. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  10. "Sean Stokes - Recipient -". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2020-01-25.

Further reading
  • West, Bing (2005). No True Glory: A Frontline Account of the Battle for Fallujah (Bantam trade pbk. ed.). New York: Bantam Books. ISBN 978-0553383195.

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

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