On Nov 10, 2004 during the second Battle of Fallujah, Staff Sgt. David G. Bellevia was a squad leader with A. Co., TF 2-2, 1st ID tasked with clearing a block of buildings when his platoon was pinned down. Bellavia switched out his M16 rifle for an M249 SAW and entered one room where the insurgents were located to spray it with gunfire, forcing them to take cover and allowing the squad to move out into the street. Upon entering, Bellavia gunned down one insurgent who was loading an RPG launcher. A second enemy fighter began firing as he ran toward the kitchen and Bellavia fired back, wounding him in the shoulder. He then entered the uncleared master bedroom and emptied gunfire into all the corners, at which point the wounded insurgent entered the room, yelling and firing his weapon. Bellavia fired back, killing the man. Bellavia was then shot at by another insurgent upstairs and returned the fire, killing him as well.
At that point, an insurgent hiding in a wardrobe jumped out, firing wildly around the room and as the man leaped over the bed, he tripped and Bellavia shot him several times, wounding but not killing him. Another insurgent was yelling from upstairs, and the wounded enemy escaped the bedroom and ran upstairs. Bellavia followed the bloody tracks up the stairs to a room on his left. Hearing the wounded insurgent inside, he threw a grenade into the room, which caused the insurgent to flee to the roof. Bellavia grabbed the wounded insurgent and put him in a choke hold. In the wild scuffle that followed, Bellavia took out his knife and slit his throat. Two other insurgents who were trying to come to their comradeās rescue, fired at Bellavia, but he had slipped out of the room, which was now full of smoke and fire. A final insurgent dropped from the third story to the second-story roof. Bellavia saw the fleeing man and fired at him, hitting him in the back and the legs and causing him to fall off the roof and die. His actions and bravery saved the lives of his men and took the lives of others.
Bellavia was initially awarded the Silver Star. After further investigation, he will now receive the Medal of Honor on June 25th.
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