Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Kevin Baskin, a special amphibious reconnaissance corpsman with the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC), will receive a Silver Star Friday for risking his life under enemy fire in Afghanistan, Military Times reports.
Baskin’s actions saved the lives of four of his teammates, according to his medical citation.
Baskin was attached to Marine Special Operations Team 8224 with 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion during the unit's 2013 deployment to Herat province, Afghanistan. On April 24, Baskin and his team members found themselves under a barrage of enemy fire from insurgents in concealed positions near Kushe Village, in South Zereko Valley.
When a Marine fell wounded, Baskin "ran into the kill zone with total disregard for his personal safety to provide desperately needed aid," according to his medal citation.
He successfully stabilized the Marine and loaded him onto a casualty evacuation vehicle.
But as enemy fire continued, Baskin was wounded in the back, according to his citation. Despite his wound, he kept treating casualties, including an Afghan National Army Special Forces soldier who was also hit by enemy fire.
He also received a Purple Heart for his actions, his second. He received his first during a previous deployment to Afghanistan.