Christopher S. Adlesperger Navy Cross citation
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the NAVY CROSS (posthumously) to
LANCE CORPORAL
CHRISTOPHER S. ADLESPERGER
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lance Corporal Christopher S. Adlesperger, United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Rifleman, Company K, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1, FIRST Marine Division in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 10 November 2004. As Lance Corporal made entry into a house in the Jolan District of Al Fallujah, during Operation AL FAJR, his squad received a heavy volume of enemy machinegun fire from a well-prepared entrenched machine gun position. These fires instantly killed the point man, and injured another Marine and the platoon corpsman. Exposed to heavy enemy machine gun fire and grenades, Lance Corporal Adlesperger immediately attacked the enemy with rifle fire. While doing so, he suffered a fragmentation wound from enemy grenades. With the majority of his platoon pinned down by insurgent positions, Lance Corporal Adlesperger single–handedly cleared stairs and a roof top to move the injured to a rooftop where they could receive medical attention. On his own initiative, while deliberately exposing himself to heavy enemy fire, he established a series of firing positions and attacked the enemy, forcing them to be destroyed in place or to move into an area where adjacent forces could engage them. Disregarding his own wounds and physical exhaustion, Lance Corporal Adlesperger rejoined his platoon and demanded to take the point for a final assault on the same machine gun position. Once an Assault Amphibian Vehicle created a breach in the wall adjacent to the enemy’s position, Lance Corporal Adlesperger was the first Marine to re-enter the courtyard where he eliminated a remaining insurgent at close range. When the fighting finally ceased, a significant number of insurgents from fortified positions had been eradicated. Through his actions, Lance Corporal Adlesperger destroyed the last strongpoint in the Jolan District of A1 Fallujah, and saved the lives of his fellow Marines. By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, and utmost devotion to duty, Lance Corporal Adlesperger reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Born: 24 October 1984 in Albuquerque, N.M…. Promoted to lance corporal after above actions… Killed during an assault on 9 December 2004… Interred at Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, N.M.