US Marine Captain John W. Maloney, 36, of Chicopee

      Maloney frequently text-messaged with his wife, Michelle. Exchanges usually went something like this one she saved from March 19:

2005 Leftwich Trophy Winner

For the first time in the award’s 27-year history, the Marine Corps has bestowed the prestigious Leftwich Trophy for Outstanding Leadership to an officer who died in combat.

Capt. John W. Maloney was killed June 16, 2005, when his Humvee was destroyed by a “massive bomb” as he led his infantrymen from the Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, out of an ambush in a small town south of Ramadi, Iraq, according to his nomination.

Maloney assumed command of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines in July 2004.

“There are few officers who accomplish so much in such a short time in command,” wrote 1/5’s former commander, Lt. Col. Eric Smith. “This is simply a reflection of the efforts and abilities of an officer who, in my opinion, was not only made of the same stuff as Lt. Col. Leftwich, but who similarly sacrificed his life for his Marines.”

The Corps cited Maloney as the 2005 recipient of the Leftwich Trophy in an April 4 Corps-wide message, AlMar 015/06.

First awarded in June 1979 to Capt. Clyde S. Brinkley Jr., the Leftwich Trophy is intended to recognize active-duty captains in the ground combat-arms community holding company or battery command who “clearly and dramatically demonstrate the ideals of courage, resourcefulness, perseverance and concern for the well-being of our Corps and its enlisted Marines,” according to the criteria for the award.

The award is provided through a foundation established by H. Ross Perot, a Naval Academy roommate of Lt. Col. William Leftwich, for whom the trophy is named.

Shortly after taking command of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion in Vietnam, Leftwich died in a helicopter crash during a Nov. 18, 1970, emergency extraction of his men from enemy-infested territory.

Maloney’s company was posted at one of the hottest combat outposts in Ramadi, capital of the volatile Anbar province in western Iraq, a notorious Sunni stronghold. The government center outpost in the heart of the city is the site of frequent insurgent attacks from rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns and mortar fire.

The parallels with Maloney’s actions and those of the award’s namesake were not lost on Smith when he recommended the fallen Maloney for the Leftwich.

“Were we to replace a hot [landing zone] and a UH-1 [Huey] helicopter with an IED-infested sector of town and an armored Humvee, there would be no daylight between what these two great leaders gave to our Corps,” he wrote.

Awarding the trophy posthumously was somewhat controversial, Marine officials said, though rules governing the award do not rule out giving the trophy — which depicts a Vietnam-era Marine officer clutching an M16 in one hand, waving his men forward with the other — to a deceased Marine.

Smith argued in his nomination for Maloney that the Jan. 20 award of a Bronze Star with a combat “V” was done “to pay him tribute” for his heroism in Iraq.

“The commandant came back and asked us, ‘Are you doing this because the Marine was killed in action or was he the best guy?’” said Gene Benson, Leftwich Trophy coordinator with the Corps’ Plans, Policy and Operations office, in an April 24 interview. “And he was the best guy regardless if he had been [killed in action] or not. So it just turned out that way.”

Benson said plans are in the works to present the Leftwich Trophy to Maloney’s wife, Michelle, at the Marine Corps Association-sponsored Ground Awards Dinner in Arlington, Va., on Sept. 21.

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Shaded from the afternoon sun, the men of Charlie Company gathered Jan. 20 to pay their respects to their former commander in Iraq last year by presenting his posthumous combat medal to his family.

A roadside bomb killed Capt. John Maloney, 36, on June 16 as he maneuvered the infantry company in an assault against enemy fighters in Ramadi, Iraq. Maloney’s widow, Michelle, and their two children joined relatives, friends and fellow Marines in a short ceremony to accept Maloney’s Bronze Star medal.

“This is an award which John Maloney earned and it should be presented,” said Lt. Col. Eric Smith, who commands 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, during the ceremony at Memorial Park at Camp San Mateo, in the northern part of the sprawling amphibious training base. “He is not here to receive it.”

Smith presented the Bronze Star medal, with a small bronze “V” fastened to the ribbon, to Maloney’s son, Nathaniel, 6, as Michelle Maloney looked on.

The medal honors Maloney’s heroics while he led his company in Ramadi, a provincial capital and hotbed of insurgent activity in western Iraq. Maloney, a native of Chicopee, Mass., and the oldest of three sons who joined the Corps, led them through 109 consecutive days operating in the city. “Ramadi is a tough place, and it’s even tougher to be a company commander. When you do it really well, you are recognized,” Smith said. “We’ve been waiting to do this for a long time … to present John with the award he deserved.”

“This is a tremendous opportunity to remember the valorous acts of John Maloney,” he added.

Maloney, a prior enlisted Marine, had landed in Iraq last March with 1/5, which operated with the Army’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team and 2nd Marine Division.

When enemy forces attacked a battalion outpost on March 18, Maloney “decisively moved to counterattack the enemy when his vehicle was struck by a [roadside bomb],” the award citation reads. “Despite being thrown from the vehicle and badly injured, he called in his own medevac and forced the enemy to retreat by maneuvering his forces against them.”

Two months later, on June 16, Maloney led Charlie Company in a counterattack against a group of enemy fighters encountered as the company hunted insurgents in southwest Ramadi.

“Suspecting an ambush on his egress route, he instinctively placed his vehicle at the front of the company and began to lead them out of the danger zone. As he personally led his men out of harm’s way, a massive [roadside bomb] destroyed his vehicle and killed him,” the citation reads. “His selfless leadership continued to inspire his Marines as they fought for the next two hours against heavy machinegun, rocket propelled grenade and mortar fire.”

The attack also killed Lance Cpl. Erik Heldt, 26, of Hermann, Mo.

Maloney’s leadership inspired his men through those intense hours, said 1st Sgt. Michael Brookman, Charlie’s company first sergeant. “All our Marines are rejoicing in what Captain Maloney did for us,” he said, adding, “that Bronze Star is his gift for us.”

“I brought 150 Marines home,” said Brookman. “His legacy brought home the Marines of Charlie Company.”

— Gidget Fuentes, Times staff writer

Staff Sgt. Christopher N. Piper



Hometown: Marblehead, Massachusetts, U.S.

Age: 43 years old

Died: June 16, 2005 in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Incident: Died at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Tex., from injuries sustained on June 3 when a makeshift bomb exploded near his vehicle in Orgun-E.

Staff Sgt. Christopher N. Piper, 43, of Marblehead, Mass., died on June 16 at the Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, from injuries sustained on June 3 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his military vehicle.

43, Army Special Forces Staff Sergeant, Of Fort Bragg, N.C. and Marblehead, died June 15 at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX. SSGT Piper was wounded on duty in Afghanistan earlier this month and died of his wounds after being evacuated. Services are pending through Eustis-Cornell Funeral Home In MARBLEHEAD. A graveside service is planned. Eustis-Cornell Funeral Home Marblehead, MA (781) 631-0076

Special Forces Communications Sergeant

His awards and decorations include: the Army Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement

A native of Marblehead, Mass. Piper enlisted in the Marine Corps September 30, 1980 where he served for three years. He entered the Army April 17, 1995.

After numerous assignments, including service in the Massachusetts Army National Guard, he arrived to 7th SFG at Fort Bragg, NC. in September 2004.

Piper deployed in support of operation Enduring Freedom in November 2004 .

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, June 18, 2005) — An Army Special Forces Soldier based here died June 16, 2005 at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Staff Sgt. Christopher N. Piper, 43, a communications sergeant, assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) here, was critically injured June 3, 2005 near Orgun-e, Afghanistan. He sustained injuries when an enemy improvised explosive device detonated near his Ground Mobility Vehicle during operations in Afghanistan’s southeastern region.

In the same incident, Staff Sgt. Leroy E. Alexander and Capt. Charles D. Robinson, both assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th SFG, were killed June 3.

Piper was transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center at Landstuhl, Germany, then to Brooke Army Medical Center for further treatment.

Marblehead turned out yesterday to honor a fallen Green Beret in an outpouring of sympathy and patriotism not seen in decades in the historic seaside community. 

A horse-drawn caisson with the casket of Staff Sgt. Christopher N. Piper lead a funeral procession  through Marblehead. At left, Piper's widow, Connie, and his son, Christopher, receive the American flag at his funeral. While a member of the Special Forces wipes his eyes as he kneels by the casket. 

Amid tight security and a sea of American flags clutched by several thousand mourners along the funeral route from Marblehead's Old North Church, Army Staff Sgt. Christopher N. Piper was laid to rest in the veterans section of Waterside Cemetery.

the church service began and were quickly forgotten amid the flood of mourners who followed Piper's casket from the church on a horse-drawn cassion or watched solemnly along the funeral route.

**Information from SFAHQ.com, The Department of Defense, USASOC used in this Article.

Staff Sgt. Christopher N. Piper, 43, a communications sergeant, assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), was critically injured June 3, 2005 near Orgun-e, Afghanistan. He sustained injuries when an enemy improvised explosive device detonated near his Ground Mobility Vehicle during operations in Afghanistan’s southeastern region.

Piper died at Brooke army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas as a result of his injuries.

A native of Marblehead, Mass. Piper enlisted in the Marine Corps September 30, 1980 where he served for three years. He entered the Army April 17, 1995.

After numerous assignments, including service in the Massachusetts Army National Guard, he arrived to 7th SFG  September 2004. Piper deployed in support of operation Enduring Freedom in November 2004 .

His awards and decorations include: the Army Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, the Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Special Forces Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Parachutist Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

His wife, Consuelo, and two children, Dierdre and Christopher of Marblehead, Mass. survive him. God bless SSG Piper and his family. Rest in peace, brother.

U.S. ARMY SPECIAL FORCES COMMAND (AIRBORNE) BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH U.S. ARMY SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE FORT BRAGG, NC 28310 / (910) 432-6005 / http://www.soc.mil As of 11 April 2006

STAFF SGT. CHRISTOPHER N. PIPER Died June 16, 2005 Operation Enduring Freedom

Staff Sgt. Christopher N. Piper, 43, was born Dec. 20, 1961. He was a Special Forces communications sergeant assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Fort Bragg N. C.

A native of Marblehead, Mass., Piper graduated from Marblehead High School in 1980. Following graduation he entered the Marine Corps and attended training at Parris Island, S.C.

While serving with the Marine Corps, he deployed to Beirut, Lebanon as a scout sniper from February through October 1983, eventually becoming a regimental scout sniper. In 1983, he left active service with the Marine Corps and joined the Marine Corps Reserves.

He entered the Army, April 17, 1995. After numerous assignments, including service with 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and Headquarters, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, he arrived to 7th SFG (Airborne) in September 2004.

Good Morning and thank you all for being here with us today.  Derek’s story was not supposed to end this soon or in this manner.  This is not how it’s supposed to end, a father giving his son’s eulogy.  When I asked myself how am I going to do this I drew upon Derek’s strength and courage, thinking, if he can do what he accomplished in his twenty-five years of life, I have to speak for him and let the world know Derek’s story.

          After I received the news of Derek’s death I was angry at the world, the Army, the President, the War, even myself for letting him attend West Point.  I quickly realized that to take this stance would minimize all that Derek believed in and all that he accomplished in his life because he truly believed in his mission that he was making the world a better place.   When Derek was looking at colleges, Sue once said to me “Aren’t you worried about him having to go to war after he graduates.”  I said “no I would be more worried if he goes to a conventional college and him getting home safe on the weekends.” 

Well, September 11 changed the world we once knew and Derek quickly realized he would probably be going to war at some point in his military career.  He still had the chance to transfer out of West Point before his junior year without owing the Military any time, but he not have it any other way.

          Derek is the oldest of our four children; Michael, Ashley & Trevor and he made parenting easy for Sue & I by always setting the bar high and reaching for his goals both in the classroom and sports.  His younger brothers and sister just followed from the example he set.

          By no means was Derek the perfect child.  I like how Sister Mary (Derek’s second grade teacher from the Immaculate Conception School) described him when she came to visit us on Saturday.  She called him “spirited” but went on to say that she saw the good in him when he would sit his little sister Ashley on his lap in the lunchroom, while Sue would help at the lunches.

          I would have to say that spirited would be considered an understatement at times.  The first parent teacher conferences of each new school year were always interesting with Derek.  Sue would always ask Derek if there was anything he wanted to say before we went he had better tell us now, because we were going to believe the teacher.  Then it was “well Mr. Smith might say this or Mrs. Jones might say that.” 

At St Johns Prep Sue & I were shocked at the first parent teacher meeting when we sat down in Mr. Nance’s French class, introduced ourselves and he responded “Model Student” We looked at each other in amazement and Mr. Nance said to us “you seemed surprised,” I said “we are” to which he responded “In what way?”  I just said Derek was a little bit of a problem in grades 1-8; he had a little trouble remembering who was the teacher & who was the student.

          Derek always seemed to find different ways to cut his head well enough for stitches.  In the doctors office while waiting to have his tubes removed from his ears he fell and hit his head on the coffee table, climbing the stacks of dog food in the front of Shaw’s supermarket, falling off the stage during the school play here at the IC and thinking an old piece of plywood would make a good slide, (big mistake)

          When Derek turned eighteen he said “you know dad I’m old enough to get a tattoo if I want.”  I jokingly said maybe I will get one with you, to which he responded “ya dad that will be cool,” I was able to put it off for a few months, but he finally called my bluff.  He was so proud of that little H tattooed on his calf, if I knew it was going to make him that happy I would have done it a lot sooner. 

I remember Derek’s first college hockey game in Bemidji Minn. Against Bemidji State as though it were yesterday.  He scored on his first shot on net, though he soon found out they weren’t all going to be that easy.  We were sitting alone in the hotel after the game and I told him how proud I was of him for all he accomplished in the past six months, graduating from St Johns, getting through Cadet basic training and making the team as a freshman.  I then told him that “I HOPE SOMEDAY YOU HAVE A SON, THAT GIVES YOU THE THRILLS, THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME ALL THESE YEARS”

At West Point Derek used to play like he was six feet tall, hitting everything in site at full speed, backing down from no one.  He had his own fan club; a group of local high school kids used to bring Heinz Ketchup bottles to the games and would bang them on the glass when Derek would make a hit or score.  They would wait for him after games for autographs and talk with us like we were celebrities.  After the season he invited them in the locker-room giving them sticks and shirts.

Sophomore year at West Point he met his girlfriend Leah Sandman who was also a cadet and member of the swim team.  After graduation Derek and Leah continued their relationship despite having different posts and jobs in the Army.  Leah did a tour of duty in Iraq, while Derek was able to go back to West Point to be a graduate assistant for the hockey team and she received her Combat Badge for her duty in Iraq.  Last September Derek was stationed in Italy for about six months before he was deployed.  Leah was stationed in Germany and they were able to travel to many places in Europe and spent last Christmas in Paris.  Leah will always be a member of our family.

Derek was in Afghanistan about six weeks and would call every so often.  He would tell us about the different projects he was working on.  I was going online reading about a these battles that were in the very province he was in and finally asked him Derek, what are you really doing?  He said, “Dad, you really want to know?”  I said yes to which he replied, “don’t tell mom.”  “I was in a fire fight for 50 minutes the other day, we took gunfire and RPG fire for 50 minutes, three of us were surrounded by 8 insurgents.  I hate humvees, I am never getting in another one, I’ll walk till my feet bleed and my feet are bleeding because we walked fifty miles in two days.”   “That was the second gun battle we were in this week.”  Shortly after that, he wrote his letter to the Nbpt Daily News so I really couldn’t keep the danger of his missions from his mother anymore.

The whole time he was there he never once complained.  Two weeks ago four men in his company were killed when their humvee was blown up in front of Derek’s one of his soldiers was critically injured.  Derek’s only concern was to ask if we knew anyone living in Washington that could visit his soldier because his family couldn’t the plane fare. 

Courage - That quality of mind or spirit enabling one to meet danger or opposition with fearlessness.

Fortitude - Strength of mind in the face of pain, adversity, or peril, patient courage.

Humble - Free from pride or vanity, modest.

Hero - A man distinguished for exceptional courage and fortitude, one idealized for superior qualities or deeds of any kind.ford plane fare to visit. 

 It was never about Derek, he was truly a hero and his legacy will live on forever.  I know he is looking down upon me now saying Dad stop talking about me.  I will never stop, until I see you again, Love Dad

Our Mission

The 1st Lieutenant Derek Hines Soldiers Assistance fund intends to provide financial assistance for Massachusetts’s soldiers that have incurred serious, career ending, and life altering injuries while on active duty.

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