(Marine Corps Captain Brian Stann receiving his Silver Star in March 2006 for bravery and leadership in battle following Operation Matador.)
If you haven’t heard Brian Stann recall his harrowing tale of his platoon’s six-day firefight in Iraq during Operation Matador, put aside a few minutes today and watch this.
I’m not sure why Brian gets as much flack as he does for being proud of his fellow Marines, but as he explains it, serving his country wasn’t a cakewalk and he says he constantly recalls the horrors he saw during his two tours in Iraq and that it aged him 15 years in the three-years he spent over there.
Regardless of your political views or your views on war, Stann is a hero who helped ensure that his men all made it home after an insurgent attack that could have just as easily gone the other way and for that he should be commended. He is one of the most professional fighters in the sport who always represents MMA with class and dignity — something other fighters should strive to do better.
(Video courtesy of YouTube/FuelTV)