CLEVELAND, Aug. 30, 2006 — Capt. Matthew C. Gratton, a Navy Reserve Medical Corps officer, was presented the Bronze Star for his actions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, during a ceremony here Aug. 28.
Although Gratton lives and works in Kansas City, Kan., he regularly drills as the commanding officer of a medical unit at Navy Operational Support Center Cleveland. He received the medal for actions performed as battalion surgeon with the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines in the Al Anbar province of Iraq while deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“This award,” said Gratton, “is really a representation of the hard work performed by my people.”
Gratton was responsible for the health and welfare of 1,700 Marines, sailors, and Iraqi soldiers based in two camps and three firm bases. He organized and supervised more than 1,700 medical visits at battalion aid stations and provided specialized medical care to more than 1,000 patients. He provided trauma care to more than 150 wounded-in-action, who were evacuated to Camps Haditha and Hit. On May 7 alone, he supervised, treated, and stabilized 11 casualties wounded in combat from a coordinated improvised explosive device attack in Haditha.
The ceremony was conducted along the shores of Lake Erie at the decommissioned submarine and now museum USS Cod. Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. John C. Harvey Jr., presented the Bronze Star. Other attendees included Gratton’s wife, Joanne, many of the corpsmen who were deployed with him, sailors from the Navy
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