Lance Corporal Jonathan Velasco was in receipt of imminent danger pay during this period.
Lance Corporal Jonathan Velasco is enthusiastically recommended for the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal with combat distinguishing device for heroic achievement in the superior performance of his duties while serving as Vehicle Operator at Headquarters and Service Company, 2d Battalion, 7th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 7, I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).
On 5 October 2012, Lance Corporal Velasco was assigned as the Vehicle Operator for the Logistic Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR). The LVSR was utilized to tow a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) 4x4 from Combat Out Post (COP) Shamsher to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Sabit Qadam via FOB Nolay, during convoy Coal Train’s logistical resupply mission.
While departing friendly lines from FOB Nolay, the tow bar pin on Lance Corporal Velasco’s vehicle broke free, due to the steep grade of terrain, causing the towed vehicle to become disconnected from the tow bar. Lance Corporal Velasco immediately recognized the problem and halted his vehicle preventing the unmanned MRAP from rolling over. During the short halt required to resolve the issue, convoy Coal Train began receiving machine gun, rocket propelled grenade, and mortar fire.
Lance Corporal Velasco assessed the situation recognized that an immediate action had to be conducted quickly and that the unmanned vehicle required expedient recovery. While the rest of his convoy staged in positions to provide cover, Lance Corporal Velasco and his Vehicle Commander dismounted the LVSR under fire. Running directly to the rear of his vehicle to make repairs, Lance Corporal Velasco found the tow bar lodged into his rear tire. Maintaining his bearing and focus on the required immediate action, he was able to disengage the tow bar.
As enemy fire increased, Lance Corporal Velasco informed his Convoy Commander that the tow bar was no longer serviceable and could not be repaired quickly. Without hesitation, or regard for his own safety, Lance Corporal Velasco advised that he was going to attempt to get the vehicle running as he climbed over the hood and into the gunner’s turret. He continued to expose himself to fire by placing himself in harm’s way, as enemy rounds impacted all of the vehicles staged around him in order to move the vehicle out of the kill zone; Lance Corporal Velasco entered the vehicle through the gunner’s turret and immediately started the engine thus allowing the convoy to complete is mission without serious injury or death to any member of the platoon.
Lance Corporal Velasco now became the operator of the vehicle that was previously being towed. Continuing to take enemy fire, Lance Corporal Velasco maneuvered the vehicle out of the kill zone without communication or the aid of a Vehicle Commander. Directed by the Convoy Commander, Coal Train maneuvered north on the 611 to Sabit Qadam.
Lance Corporal Velasco is decisive, reliable and motivated. Lance Corporal Velasco is proactive in his personal and professional development. Additionally, he has exceeded the expectations of his current pay grade. Lance Corporal Velasco continues to serve on a combat tour in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan and has demonstrated superb skills in his effectiveness under stress, as he conducts tactical movements throughout the AO on a daily basis. Lance Corporal Velasco was recently selected as the Marine of the Quarter for the First Quarter, Fiscal Year 2013, for his professional performance while participating in more than 40 convoy missions, traveling more than 1,200 mishap free miles, assisting in the transportation of nearly three million pounds of gear and 2,600 gallons of fuel throughout the battle space.
The courage, unselfishness, and commitment to his fellow Marines displayed by Lance Corporal Velasco’s heroic actions throughout the highly kinetic operation were absolutely critical to the convoy’s success. Lance Corporal Velasco’s bold and decisive actions reflected credit upon himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He is truly worthy of the recognition by awarding of the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device.
CITATION
HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS VEHICLE OPERATOR, HEADQUARTERS AND SERVICE COMPANY, 2D BATTALION, 7TH MARINES ON 5 OCTOBER 2012 IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. LANCE CORPORAL VELASCO PERFORMED HIS DUTIES AS VEHICLE OPERATOR WITH EXCEPTIONAL SKILL; DURING A CONVOY IN SOUTHERN SANGIN, AFGHANISTAN HIS PLATOON CAME UNDER ACCURATE ENEMY MACHINEGUN AND ROCKET FIRE FROM MULTIPLE POSITIONS. WITH COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR HIS OWN SAFETY, LANCE CORPORAL VELASCO DISMOUNTED HIS VEHICLE EXPOSING HIMSELF TO ENEMY FIRE IN ORDER TO RECOVER A VEHICLE. LANCE CORPORAL VELASCO DISPLAYED BRAVERY IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY BY EXPOSING HIMSELF TO ENEMY FIRE, CLIMBING THROUGH THE GUNNER’S TURRET, AND MANEUVERING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE ENEMY ENGAGEMENT AREA. LANCE CORPORAL VELASCO’S DEMONSTRATED PHYSICAL COURAGE INSPIRED HIS FELLOW MARINES AND ENSURED MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT. LANCE CORPORAL VELASCO’S EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONALISM, UNRELENTING PERSEVERANCE, 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 Failed…Hard
Sleep deprivation is a cornerstone of Marine officer training, a brutal yet essential part of building the foundation for young officers. The hardest part of training wasn’t the physical fitness, the mental aptitude, or the chaotic environment—it was staying awake. We tried everything: hydrating, standing up, chugging water. Despite all these methods, nothing compared to the challenge of running on minimal sleep for days on end.
I didn’t succeed. I failed to develop the stamina needed for Officer Candidate School. Although I passed, it wasn’t with flying colors. Worse, I failed to correct this deficiency, and then I failed HARD.
The first time was a warning shot. I woke up in the midst of a foreign convoy, just feet from where I had rested my head on the hilltop of FOB Nolay. I was at peace, sitting on the hilltop in southern Sangin province. My eyes got heavy, and who knows how long it was until the Afghan convoy strolled by, jolting me awake. For about five seconds, I was a one-man defense against an army of soldiers. Thankfully, no harm came from it, but it was a stark warning.
The second time was when it mattered. There were no human casualties, but the perspective of one of my most trusted Marines was tainted forever. Cpl Johnathan Velasco was my guy. He drove me, the Convoy Commander, on every mission for six months. His vehicle was targeted on every operation, more than 100 during our tenure. For over 2,000 miles, Cpl Velasco focused on the critical mission of transporting the Convoy Commander and Communication Specialist throughout the battlespace. He was perfect. Mortars came in, he pressed on. Messages about ambushes came through, he drove faster. We were invisible. I watched as he navigated IED-infested wadis, leaning on his training to get us to the other side. I witnessed military bearing at its finest in this Marine.
And then I fell asleep. It was towards the end of the deployment. I had gotten comfortable to the point that the Marines were leading most of the missions. The unit didn’t need me as much, and I started to mentally check out. My attention drifted back home, and instead of focusing on leading 32 Marines behind enemy lines, I relaxed. We were on Highway 1, just a few hours from hot chow. I was cozy, and my eyes got heavy. The next thing I knew, we had swiped a civilian tractor trailer. When I let off the gas, so did my unit. When my eyes got heavy, so did my drivers. I let my guard down, and we wrecked a civilian vehicle.
Nothing wild happened, and everything was cleaned up fine. But I knew what happened, why it happened, and the Marine knew I had gotten weak, which made us weak.
I’ve reminisced about the look I saw in Velasco’s eyes the moment we made that error. The mistake was a patch-up fix, but we made a mistake, and that’s what mattered. Now, I struggle with sleep. Not because I’m scared or have nightmares, but because sleep is the opposite of being awake. Being awake in combat means you are alive. When your life depends on being awake, you value that time. Ask me why I sleep 3-5 hours on average; it’s not because I don’t like sleep. It’s because when I’m asleep, I’m missing the mission.