08APR2003: Entering the third week of the war, Sgt. Scott Montoya and 2/23 Marines began their assault on Baghdad. Montoya and his team moved up to support Fox company just as they were coming under intense enemy small arms fire from a sizeable enemy force. Taking charge and deploying the Marines, Montoya noticed a vehicle caught in the crossfire with a wounded Iraqi civilian inside. Running through the deadly fire, Montoya reached the civilian and brought him to safety. He then noticed a wounded Marine stuck in that same street. For a second time, Montoya disregarded his own safety and ran into the enemy fire to pull the wounded Marine out. Twice more, in short order, Sgt. Montoya ran into the kill zone to pull wounded and dazed Marines to safety. His daring actions that day saved countless lives as he moved between assaulting the enemy positions and pulling his wounded brothers out of the line of fire. For his actions, Sgt Scott Montoya would be awarded the Navy Cross.

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