Profiles of Valor: U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Ian Dollard
In June 2007, U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Ian Dollard was on patrol with his team in Saqlawiyah, Iraq, when they encountered a jihadi ambush. One Marine was hit by enemy fire in the first attack, and then the platoon commander, 1st Lt. Paul Brisker, was hit by a second attack from another position.
Dollard quickly put his life on the line using his body to shield Brisker from further fire while he administered first aid. In the process, his armor was hit twice, but he pressed on, dragging Brisker more than 25 yards to a Humvee. However, as Dollard approached the vehicle, he was hit in the leg. He ignored his injury, making sure the platoon was supported on their way out and back to their operating base. Only then did he tell his Staff Sgt., “Oh, by the way, I got shot too.”
Brisker eventually made a full recovery, and we’re proud to report that Cpl. Dollard was awarded the Silver Star.
(This account was originally published in the May 9, 2008 Digest.)