Huffman earns commendation

Hero.

The word brings to mind those with super powers displayed on the pages of comic books or soaring across the big screen.

But there are heroes in the non-fictional realm.

Dunkirk native Drew Huffman is one of them. He has the certificate to prove it.

Huffman, a 2016 Jay County High School graduate, was honored last month with the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his efforts during a battle with enemy forces in Syria.

“It really is a true honor,” said Huffman. “At the time, all of us guys just felt like we were doing our job. It really is a true honor to be recognized for something like that.”

Maj. Gen. Robert Castellvi, commanding general of the Marine 1st Division, presented the award Jan. 10 at 29 Palms Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in California. Drew’s parents, Chuck and Susan Huffman, were in attendance.

The medal is awarded to members of the Navy or Marine Corps who “distinguish themselves by heroism, outstanding achievement or meritorious service.”

Though Huffman was not able to provide any details about the incident, his commendation medal certificate tells part of the story. It reads:

“Lance Cpl. Huffman performed heroically in support of special forces operational detachment Alpha Team 5231 serving as a designated quick reaction force. As a numerically superior enemy force attacked a special operations team, he exposed himself to incoming fire to establish multiple dismounted firing positions that aided in stopping the advance. His actions also contributed to the destruction of two T-72 tanks, six artillery pieces, two mortar positions and over 200 enemy combatants as well as saving the lives for 20 special operations forces operations pinned down by the enemy onslaught.” 

A May story in the New York Times described the battle, which was significant because the pro-Syrian government forces involved included Russian mercenaries. The Times’ report stemmed from interviews with military officials and documents the paper had obtained.

The report begins as follows:

“The artillery barrage was so intense that the American commandos dived into foxholes for protection, emerging covered in flying dirt and debris to fire back at a column of tanks advancing under heavy shelling.”

The Times’ story says the battle involved about 500 pro-Syrian government forces against, by the end, about 40 Americans. It refers to the incident as “one of the single bloodiest battles the American military has faced in Syria since deploying to fight the Islamic State.” No Americans were harmed.

(The full New York Times story is available at nyti.ms/2KQzTHv.)

Huffman did not discuss any of the details in that report, but said the situation he was involved in was harrowing.

“It’s definitely something that, no matter how much training you do, you can’t prepare yourself for it mentally or physically,” he said. “It’s really unlike anything you could ever experience.

“We train so much,” he added, “that initially, when it first starts happening, your mind, at least for me, just kind of goes blank for a second. And then, from there, you just kind of fall back on your training and work with your guys and just do what you’ve been working with them for years to do.”

Huffman joined the Marine Corps in August 2016 to begin a four-year commitment and now serves as an anti-tank missileman. He is part of a combined anti-armor team (CAAT platoon), which is a mechanized platoon equipped with heavy anti-armor weaponry.

He has spent time in Kuwait and Syria during his deployment. His unit is based at 29 Palms when stateside.

His next deployment, which will again be to the Middle East, is slated for October.

Huffman was reluctant to take any individual credit for his actions during the battle for which he received the commendation, instead placing his focus on the group as a whole.

“It’s more of a collective effort,” he said. “Personally I don’t think anything I did was that tremendous. But I think as a group we worked really well together. Knowing that some lives were saved, it is a great feeling.”