The military will posthumously award fallen Marine Sgt. William Stacey the Bronze Star at a Camp Pendleton ceremony Friday, according to 1st Marine Public Affairs.
The award citation mentions Stacey's multiple acts of exemplary bravery between September 1, 2011 and January 31, 2012 as the reason for his commendation.
Stacey was killed by an improvised explosive device on January 31, 2012.
1st Marine Division Commanding General Maj. Gen. Ronald Bailey will present the Bronze Star Medal with combat distinguishing device to Stacey's family at the ceremony.
As Home Post previously reported, Stacey wrote a letter to his family to be read if he died while deployed to Afghanistan. On Memorial Day 2012, Marine General John Allen paid tribute to all fallen troops by reading that letter during a Memorial Day service in Kabul.
Stacey's letter reads as follows:
"My death did not change the world; it may be tough for you to justify its meaning at all. But there is a greater meaning to it. Perhaps I did not change the world. Perhaps there is still injustice in the world. But there will be a child who will live because men left the security they enjoyed in their home country to come to his. And this child will learn in the new schools that have been built. He will walk his streets not worried about whether or not his leader's henchmen are going to come and kidnap him. He will grow into a fine man who will pursue every opportunity his heart could desire. He will have the gift of freedom, which I have enjoyed for so long. If my life buys the safety of a child who will one day change this world, then I know that it was all worth it.
Semper Fidelis means always faithful. Always faithful to God, Country and Corps. Always faithful to the principles and beliefs that guided me into the service. And on that day in October when I placed my hand on a bible and swore to defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic, I meant it."
