By Tribune-Review

Published: Friday, November 30, 2012, 8:08 p.m.
Updated: Wednesday, December 5, 2012

A Marine from Coraopolis will be awarded the military's third-highest decoration for valor during a ceremony on Dec. 10 at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum in Oakland.

Sgt. David M. Gerardi will receive the Silver Star Medal for his actions during a June 6, 2011 ambush in Afghanistan in which his platoon was pinned down by enemy fire.

The sergeant risked his life to get into a position to suppress the attack, the military said, and during a five-hour engagement was targeted by rocket-propelled grenades, automatic grenade launchers and machine gun fire.

Gerardi was able to hold the position and coordinate precision strikes that allowed his unit to move to safety.

The medal will be presented by Maj. Gen. Melvin G. Spiese at an 11 a.m. ceremony.

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