Gunnery Sgt. Michael Mella

Three weeks before a deployment to Iraq, Gunnery Sgt. Michael J. Mella became the commander of Weapons Platoon, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, at Camp Pendleton, Calif., a job normally filled by an officer.

Soon after arriving in Iraq, Mella was wounded by a roadside bomb that severely damaged both his hands, and he was medically evacuated to the United States, where he endured 12 surgeries.

But even as he healed back home, he continued to provide leadership to his unit, dictating letters to his Marines still in harm's way. He also visited other injured Marines while hospitalized and gave speeches to raise money for the Injured Marines Semper Fi Fund.