Marine at Luke receives Purple Heart

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Larry Schneck
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Cpl. Lance Pew stood in a gun turret of a mine resistant armored personnel vehicle on a resupply mission when a 120 pound improvised explosive device exploded. But Pew doesn't remember that part. He remembers being focused on navigating his convoy away from danger as the lead vehicle gunner.

"I woke up inside the MRAP," said Pew, Bulk Fuel Company C bulk fuel specialist and Reservist from Mesa. "You don't know what's going on. The mine roller in front of the MRAP was torn up from striking the IED."

The other Marines in Pew's convoy on the road in Nawzad District in Helmand Province in south central Afghanistan had to convince Pew he was the one who was injured and everyone else in the MRAP was okay - a medical evacuation helicopter was on its way. Pew didn't stop worrying about his fellow Marines.

Lt. Col Sean Riddell, Marine Forces Reserve 6th Engineer Support Battalion commanding officer, presented the Purple Heart to Pew in a ceremony at Luke, Dec. 3, 2011, for the injuries he received from the IED attack in August.

"I am awe struck," said Riddell. "When you think about it, we've been at war 10 years. These are men and women under the age of 24 who are the embodiment of selflessness."

Pew's mother, grandmother and family drove from Mesa to Luke for the 15-minute ceremony during a drill weekend for the Co. C Marines.

"I couldn't be more proud of my son," said Susan Pew, Pew's mother. "There couldn't be anything higher for him to do. I raised my children to serve God and country. You go to bed every single night praying you'll hear from him again."

The Pew family has a considerable number of men in its family who proceeded Pew in honorable service and sacrifice. His grandfather served 34 years in the Army on active-duty and in the Reserves. Pew is one of her 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
"My husband earned the Legion of Merit," said Esma Pew, Pew's grandmother. "Lance grew up seeing the framed certificate on the wall. I think it inspired him."

It's been 7 years since Pew joined the Marines. He dropped his career in residential real estate to volunteer and deploy to Afghanistan.

He and another Marine from his unit at Luke deployed with the 2nd Marine Logistics Group because it needed support. He stayed with his unit after he recovered from his wounds in a couple of weeks and redeployed after completing his tour.

"I don't feel worthy enough to receive this award," Pew said. "Others have lost limbs and gone through more than I did."

Also watching Pew receive his medal, Governor Jan Brewer sent Ryan Owens, policy advisor for military affairs, to represent her.

"The governor tries to attend as many of these important events as possible," Owens said. "When she can't make it because of other commitments, she sends me as her top veterans affairs advisor."

The battalion sergeant major read the citation for Pew's Purple Heart after he ordered the Marine to post in the front of the formation of fellow Bulk Fuel Company C Marines.
"Every Marine is a ground rifleman," said Sgt. Maj. Noe Villa, 6th Engineer Support Battalion battalion sergeant major. "There's danger being a rifleman."

The injuries Pew received could have been a lot worse, considering the size of the IED, but neither the danger nor injury appear to stop his returning.

"I'd go back (to Afghanistan) in a heartbeat," Pew said.