Alumnus earns Bronze Star, Soldier's Medal for actions in Iraq

Alumnus earns Bronze Star, Soldier's Medal for actions in Iraq

Harrisburg, Pa. -- Penn State Harrisburg graduate Gordon R. Moon has earned the Bronze Star and Soldier's Medal for his actions in Iraq with the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division.

Moon, a captain and company commander in Operation Iraqi Freedom, was awarded the Soldier's Medal for his actions in helping save a fellow soldier's life when a fire erupted in a captured munitions supply in Mosul. He was presented the Bronze Star for other actions during the conflict.

Moon earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education social studies in 1996. He is a native of New Cumberland and attended Red Land High School.

The fire which erupted May 22, 2003 ignited ammunition, forcing the evacuation of personnel and equipment outside the range of falling shrapnel and unexploded ordnance. During the evacuation, Specialist Paul Young suffered a severe shrapnel wound to his lower right leg which partially amputated the limb and severed two major arteries.

Without regard for their own personal safety, Capt. Moon and three others provided emergency lifesaving assistance to the wounded man. Exposing themselves to a constant hail of shrapnel and unexploded ordnance, the four applied a succession of three tourniquets to halt blood loss, stabilized the limb, and infused the wounded soldier with four IVs. They administered to him for more than 30 minutes awaiting medical evacuation while under a constant barrage of deadly shrapnel.

The Army citation which accompanied the Soldier's Medal states, "Their personal actions were directly responsible for saving the life of SPC Young. In addition, their immediate assessment and actions were ultimately responsible for saving his partially severed limb, which surgeons were able to reattach. Their willingness to place their own lives at risk in order to provide lifesaving assistance to a fallen comrade is an act of vigilance and heroism for which there is no parallel. Because of their stalwart actions, a soldier is alive today who would certainly have perished."

The Soldier's Medal is awarded for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. The Bronze Star is awarded for heroic or meritorious achievement in connection with military operations against an armed enemy.

Capt. Moon deployed his unit in March 2003 and returned to the United States in February 2004. After returning to Fort Campbell, Ky., the home of the 101st Airborne, he was chosen to teach other Army officers at Fort Lee, Va.