Marine Sergeant Anthony Viggiani - Someone You Should Know

Posted By Blackfive

I received this story from Jim B. with the following commentary:

Wounded Marine Sergeant Anthony Viggiani, in Afghanistan hunting remnants of Al-Queda and the Taliban, is shown here leaning on a rock, having just cornered and blasted three ACM (Anti-Coalition Maggots) in their cave. Soon afterward, our Strongsville Marine downs aspirin, and is ready to continue serving the indigenous people of Afghanistan and visiting Arabs who contact the Marines in order to be awakened into the afterlife.

Jim's on the mark here. And Strongville, Ohio breeds some bada$$ Marines.

Marine ignores battlefield wound to continue pursuing Taliban insurgents
Story by Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks

FORWARD OPERATING BASE RIPLEY, Afghanistan (June 9, 2004) -- To many of his fellow Marines in Charlie Co., Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, Sgt. Anthony Viggiani is the ideal Marine.

In the eyes of subordinates and seniors alike, the Strongsville, Ohio native embodies those qualities that make Marines special; dedicated, professional, strong, committed, moral, and brave. Now they have additional quality to add to that list -- tough-as-nails.

During a recent firefight with anti-coalition militia (ACM) in south-central Afghanistan, Viggiani's actions further elevated himself in the eyes of the rest of the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable).

When a pair of Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopters spotted approximately 20 heavily-armed ACM fighters fleeing into the hills during a cordon and knock operation of a nearby village, Charlie Company immediately pursued on foot. Leading his squad over a steep, rock-strewn mountain, Viggiani was in the lead of the advance when they came under heavy enemy rifle fire.

"The rounds just started pouring in," he said later that day, "and we weren't really sure where they were coming from."

On the slope opposite the valley below him, approximately a hundred meters away, Viggiani and his Marines watched as two Marines, Cpl. Randy Wood and Lance Cpl. James Gould were wounded by enemy rifle fire.

Aware that the fire was coming from the slope in front of him, Viggiani pressed forward cautiously when he and First Sgt. Ernest Hoopii came under concentrated fire themselves.

The 24-year-old Viggiani then found he was mere feet from the cave housing the enemy sniper still firing at Wood and Gould, who had since taken cover behind a too-small rock.

"I was able to look down a break in the rocks and saw bit of cloth move so I got off three or four shots, and then dropped the frag [fragmentation grenade]," said Viggiani.

Combined with rifle and machine gun fire from Wood and Gould's squad, the grenade explosion silenced the enemy position which was later found to have housed three ACM fighters.

Sometime during the fight, Viggiani was struck in the lower left leg by an enemy bullet fired by ACM fighters further up the valley that painfully sliced through his leg. Seemingly unmindful of the wound, Viggiani continued to engage the enemy with rifle fire until the area was cleared and a total of four dead and one wounded enemy fighters were found.

Mere minutes after the fighter, with typical Marine élan, Viggiani dismissed the wound that stained the front of his trouser leg a deep crimson.

"It stings a bit, but it's nothing," he said as he paused for a photograph in front of the cave he helped clear mere minutes after the fight.

Despite recommendations from his fellow Marines, Viggiani refused to leave his platoon and seek aid at BLT 1/6's mobile command post. With a small dressing and a few aspirin, Viggiani shouldered his rifle and trudged further into the rugged mountains in pursuit of Taliban and ACM fighters.

In addition to BLT 1/6, the 22d MEU (SOC) consists of its Command Element, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, and MEU Service Support Group 22. The MEU is in Afghanistan conducting combat and civil military operations as Task Force Linebacker.

[read about other heroes that you should know - here!]

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Comments

[gnostic surface]

A certain former Navy Lieutenant could have parlayed such actions (had he been capable of them) into a Medal of Honor and half a dozen Purple Hearts!! Of course, he would have insisted on helicopter med-evac with thorough film documentation. Every time I hear a certain turncoat hailed as a "highly-decorated veteran" I intend to think of Sgt. Viggiani instead.

[Alice]

Go Anthony!

[Brandy]

Thank God this Marine is defending me and mine! My heart is puffed up with pride for Viggiani and all our American Forces who eat sand for breakfast and insurgents for lunch!!! PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN. Amen.

[apossiblemadman]

"it stings a little, but its nothing..."
man, what an american!
semper fi, Sgt. Anthony Viggiani

[Bruce Williams]

Tony,
We expected nothing less of you....you have always been, and always will be one of the baddest asses out there.

The 'Ville is proud!

[Joe Pettrey]

To all our men and women in uniform THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU!!!!! I'm now 51 yr's old and have realized that the younger generation will step up and take charge. Unfortunatly I was around in Mass. when sais lt started shooting his mouth off (was lying then and still lying now must be a disease with no cure poli- latin for many tic- blood sucking critter nuff said

[Joe Pettrey]

To all our men and women in uniform THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU!!!!! I'm now 51 yr's old and have realized that the younger generation will step up and take charge. Unfortunatly I was around in Mass. when sais lt started shooting his mouth off (was lying then and still lying now must be a disease with no cure poli- latin for many tic- blood sucking critter nuff said

[Sue Pettrey]

are we related

[Sue Pettrey]

are we related

[Former Sgt. Matt Norris]

TONY!

You've come a long way from Camp David to the hero you are now. I met two of your Marines at the Charlotte airport a few weeks ago on my way out of town. It is a small world. Tony...keep your powder dry and your *ick hard! Oorah!

Matt

[Former Sgt. Matt Norris]

TONY!

You've come a long way from Camp David to the hero you are now. I met two of your Marines at the Charlotte airport a few weeks ago on my way out of town. It is a small world. Tony...keep your powder dry and your *ick hard! Oorah!

Matt

[Ryan West]

Tony,

You are a badass mofo. Keep up the good work and continue to make everyone you know very proud. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication.

[Jason Geddings]

Errr Vigg!
Proud of you brother. Nothing changes, you were the best man in my squad then and it seem that you are still kicken ass! Keep given em hell.
Former Squad Leader/Sgt. Geddings

[pvt marc prudom]

ssgt viggiani.you were what made me want to stick with it in boot camp.tho u may have thought we were smoking and joking, and just gaffing off.we all respected you more then any other DI on the island. you were what i thought a marine is supposed to be. i hope someday in my new life in the corps, i can achieve the things in which you have. thanks again for making me into a man, and a marine. oo-rah

[PVT Shaun Cotton]

SSGT Viggiani,
Well first off I would like to let you know that you were the most inspirational part of my rct training... from training day 1 until training day 70... I was completely amazed with your intensity,and dedication, even on the days where we were being so stupid.. I respect you more than any other DI on the island because of this. I am honored to have been under your guidance throughout my training, and can only hope to serve under you at a later date. I belive every story I have told my parents, and friends has started out with, "DI SSGT Viggiani...." Before I left for Parris Island I had this vision of a marine being a badass ground-pounder with near superhero qualities..knowing everything about every job, every weapon, and how to survive. After hearing story's of your tours, and reading this website.. I am certain you fit the description... Thank you for changing my life!
Semper Fi!

[Matt]

If any of you guys have Tony's contact info...please shoot me an email. We are having a Camp David reunion with some of our old buddies this summer in Maryland and we would like to get this hard charger there.

[Brett Nelson]

I thought everyone would like to know that SSGT Viggiani received the Navy Cross on Friday Feb. 24th for his actions documented in this article.

[Pfc. Suarez]

SSGT, Viggiani,
I'm sure that most of the Marines that you train say or would say the same things that I'm gonna say. I want to thank you for what you have done for me. My life is changed completely thanks to the training I received. You are the "Ideal" Marine. A perfect role model. I will never forget anything I learned through you or Sgt.Hall or SSGT.Reagan. I have complete confidence in myself and I am now a better person. Thank you for all you have done for me and my fellow Marines. Semper FI.
Pfc. Suarez

[PFC Abboud]

Ssgt Viggiani,
I want to say that I could not have asked for a better Drill Instructor to make me into a Marine, and I am honored to have been trained by you, and constantly strive to be the Marine that you and the other 3044 Drill Instructors made us to be. I didnt get to see you on graduation day, though i had hoped to shake your hand and thank you in person, perhaps some day i will get that chance, but until then, thank you

[PFC Abboud]

Ssgt Viggiani,
I want to say that I could not have asked for a better Drill Instructor to make me into a Marine, and I am honored to have been trained by you, and constantly strive to be the Marine that you and the other 3044 Drill Instructors made us to be. I didnt get to see you on graduation day, though i had hoped to shake your hand and thank you in person, perhaps some day i will get that chance, but until then, thank you

[Ramon Viggiani]

I am a 24 year old from Venezuela living in good old San Antonio Texas, My name is Ramon Viggiani, and in a search for other Viggiani's in the world, I came across such a wonderful story.
Anthony Viggiani, thank you very much for your efforts and for letting me know that even though we are few in the world, our blood is strong and our spirits stronger.
I would love meeting with you someday, I see you are about the same age as me.
I currently work as a Realtor with KELLER WILLIAMS Realty, and also as an apartment locator here in Military City (San Antonio, tx) Please let me know if I can be of any help to you or anyone you know. Me email is wecandoit@kw.com
My prayers are with you. I don't know you, but reading this just made me very proud.
C-ya!!!

[Jaime Viggiani]

Are we realted? my granpa is from Reggio Calabria, Domenica Talao republica de cosensa...I´ve had alway the curiosity to know other Viggiani, my name is jaime Viggiani I live in Germany, I´d like to know a litte about you too,
regards,
jaime Viggiani

[thibert greg]

thats my sdi and the best damn one ever and proud to say i had ssgt viggiani as a sdi and hope to follow his foot steps as a person and as a marine going into the sec. forces

pvt thibert 3rd bn plt 3029
"say something girl"