Lt. Bryan Boudreaux, a supply officer with Military Sealift Command in Guam, was awarded the Bronze Star during a Tuesday ceremony on Naval Base Guam. Boudreaux was recognized for outstanding and courageous service as a property officer with the Project and Contracting Office in Baghdad between Oct. 24, 2004, and March 26.
Boudreaux was credited with demonstrating “exceptional knowledge and resourceful expertise” in a dangerous environment, particularly during a rocket attack on the U.S. Embassy on the evening of Jan. 29. When a rocket passed through a wall into the room in which he and about 20 co-workers were relaxing, he threw himself on top of 1st Lt. Brian Lomax, shielding Lomax from harm.
“I didn’t even really know I did that until the next day,” Boudreaux said. “He [Lomax] was the one who told me.”
Boudreaux then administered first aid to others in the room and assisted in evacuating the injured. Having been a Marine Force corpsman for nine years, Boudreaux credited his training for his actions.
“All the training that I thought was just humdrum and repeat and ‘the same old, same old’ at the time just seemed to come out,” he said.
Two individuals died and seven were injured in the attack.
Bryan’s wife, Kristi, at the ceremony with the couple’s sons, Bryan and Kristopher, and daughter, Brittney, said she did not learn about the incident until her husband’s return.
“I was very relieved that everything was fine with him,” she said. “Our thoughts and prayers went to the families of the people that had died in the incident.”
The medal was presented by Rear Adm. Charles Leidig, commander of Naval Forces Marianas.
Kristi Boudreaux said she is proud of her husband but not surprised.
“He’s worked his way up and he’s accomplished a lot of things. This is one of the things we’re most proud of. But it’s just the type of person he is, always willing to help.”
