LCpl Dan McKeeth nominated for the Navy Achievement Medal

My brother, Lance Corporal Dan McKeeth, is serving with the Marines' Bravo Company, 2nd Tanks "The Brawlers" at Camp Fallujah in Iraq as an M1 tank driver. He tells me that driver is the position everyone starts at in the tank, and then move up through the other positions - gunner, loader and commander (if I remember right).

Shortly after arriving in Iraq his crew put him in for a merits promotion, which is how he ended up as a Lance Corporal. He was actually put in for another promotion, but there is a requirement that he serve as Lance Corporal for a while first. Now he has been nominated to receive the Navy Achievement Medal or NAM. The following is a paraphrase of his write-up.

While on a mission the tank commander was injured. LCpl McKeeth brought the tank to a stop to evacuate the crew as the tank filled with smoke. He then drove the tank quickly to the medevac site with his hatch open, exposing himself to potential fire. Later that day LCpl McKeeth assumed the role of gunner without training or experience, performing very well. At the same time he trained up a replacement driver with no previous experience.

As driver he is the newest member of the crew. The fact that he took action when needed is really impressive. He's crew regularly comments that he knows more about Maya then anyone else.

He has not received the award yet, but he says his odds are really good.