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First Name: Jeffrey

Last Name: Kirk

Birthplace: LA, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Marines (present)



Home of Record: Baton Rouge, LA
Middle Name: Lynn



Date of Birth: 31 July 1980

Date of Death: 12 December 2004

Rank: Sergeant

Years Served:
Jeffrey Lynn Kirk

   
Engagements:
•  Iraq War (Operation Iraqi Freedom) (2003 - 2011)

Biography:

Jeffrey Lynn Kirk
Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps

On 10 November 2004, then-Sergeant Jeffrey Lynn Kirk was serving First Squad Leader, Third Platoon, Company K, Third Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, First Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

On that day, while Sgt Kirk and his squad gained entry into a building, insurgents threw a grenade from a room containing a hardened machine gun position. Sgt Kirk quickly organized and led Marines from multiple squads across an open courtyard to eliminate the threat. Effective enemy small arms fire forced him and the other Marines to withdraw to a covered position while returning fire with grenades and small arms. Unfazed, Sgt Kirk re-grouped his men behind cover and attacked the building a 2nd time. Although wounded as he approached the position, Sgt Kirk continued to attack by throwing a grenade into the room and then eliminating the enemy machine gunner with a rifle. Enemy fire and grenades again erupted from the same room. Sgt Kirk and the Marines withdrew once more, throwing grenades in their wake. Refusing medical attention, Sgt Kirk remained as the point man and led the Marines in for a 3rd assault on the enemy position. Sgt Kirk quickly overwhelmed and destroyed the remaining insurgents, clearing the building to the roof. Sgt Kirk's extraordinary actions in the face of great danger destroyed a key defensive position and prevented the enemy from inflicting serious casualties on other Marines. Sgt Kirk’s decisive leadership and courageous actions that day earned him the U.S. Marine Corps' third highest award for valor, the Silver Star Medal.

On 12 December 2004, a month following the above action, Sgt Kirk was Killed in Action.

Medals and Awards

Silver Star Medal
Purple Heart with Gold Star
Navy & Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with Bronze Star

Silver Star Medal Citation

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant Jeffrey Lynn Kirk, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as First Squad Leader, Third Platoon, Company K, Third Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, FIRST Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 10 November 2004. While Sergeant Kirk and his squad gained entry into a building, insurgents threw a grenade from a room containing a hardened machine gun position. Sergeant Kirk quickly organized and led Marines from multiple squads across an open courtyard to eliminate the threat. Effective enemy small arms fire forced him and the other Marines to withdraw to a covered position while returning fire with grenades and small arms. Unfazed, Sergeant Kirk re-grouped his men behind cover and attacked the building a second time. Although wounded as he approached the position, he continued to attack by throwing a grenade into the room and then eliminating the enemy machine gunner with a rifle. Enemy fire and grenades again erupted from the same room. Sergeant Kirk and the Marines withdrew once more, throwing grenades in their wake. Refusing medical attention, he remained as the point man and led the Marines in for a third assault on the enemy position. He quickly overwhelmed and destroyed the remaining insurgents, clearing the building to the roof. His extraordinary actions in the face of great danger destroyed a key defensive position and prevented the enemy from inflicting serious casualties on other Marines. By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, and utmost devotion to duty, Sergeant Kirk reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Burial

Sergeant Jeffrey Lynn Kirk is buried at the Port Hudson National Cemetery in Zachary, East Baton Rouge Parish, LA, in Section L, Site 69.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14284569/jeffrey-lynn-kirk



Honoree ID: 4943   Created by: MHOH

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