Joseph L Lollino

Joseph L LollinoDistinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a medic with 3d Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment during combat operations against an armed enemy in Paktika Province, Afghanistan on June 20, 2008. While on patrol, Corporal Lollino’s convoy came under direct fire from Anti-Afghan Forces set up in a near ambush. During the barrage of enemy fire, the third vehicle in the convoy was disabled by a rocket-propelled grenade and was pushed by another vehicle out of the kill zone. Corporal Lollino drove his own vehicle through the kill zone in order to establish a casualty collection point at the location of the disabled vehicle and immediately began to coordinate first line care of the casualties while engaging known enemy locations with his personal weapon from an exposed position. Soon, enemy forces greatly intensified their fire on Corporal Lollino’s position. Ignoring the danger, he continued to administer treatment to all four casualties, used his body to shield one of the injured from incoming rocket-propelled grenades, and continued working even after sustaining shrapnel wounds himself. Corporal Lollino then loaded the casualties onto an alternate vehicle and continued to provide aid while the convoy fought through the three kilometer kill zone. Corporal Lollino’s selfless leadership, courageous actions, and extraordinary devotion to duty are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, and the United States Army.