MCB HAWAII -- The members of the 3rd Marine Regiment stood in formation April 23 to congratulate a second Marine from their unit within two weeks for his rare achievement. Sgt. Nathan Cordero received a Navy Achievement Medal for being chosen as the III Marine Expeditionary Force Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.
Recently promoted to sergeant, Cordero is the Communications Department’s noncommissioned officer in charge.
His department is in charge of making sure all communication equipment in the regiment is working properly or is being repaired.
“He’s worked far beyond the expectations we expect of him as a corporal of the Marines and that’s the reason why we made him a sergeant,” said Master Sgt. Michael McComas, maintenance chief, 3rd Marine Regiment. “That transitioned him into being the [III] MEF NCO of the year.”
Cordero grew up in Fontana, Calif., with three brothers. He enlisted in September 2005 because he wanted to be challenged both mentally and physically. From March to December of 2008, Cordero voluntarily deployed with Embedded Training Team 5-3 to Afghanistan.
“I didn’t want to be one of those guys who just sit [around] and don’t go anywhere,” Cordero said.
He and two other service members helped train an Afghan platoon. One memory of deployment was fighting insurgents in the village of Loi Kalai, during the Marine Corps birthday.
“Every day was a surprise,” Cordero said of the deployment. “It was a good time.”
During his deployment to Afghanistan, Cordero also had to help a few people out of a firefight. Joe DeBose, a former staff sergeant now in the Army, who was on the ETT with him in Afghanistan, recalled one particular firefight. During the skirmish, Cordero helped a fellow Marine who was being shot at by an enemy sniper.
Despite being hit in his body armor, DeBose said Cordero didn’t take cover, but kept firing 203 grenades at the enemy until the other Marine was safe. Cordero also saved then-combat photojournalist Keith Lepor from a firefight.
“I owe my life to Nathan Cordero who pulled me out of the ‘kill zone’ on 9/29/08 after being shot in the chest by a sniper in the Korengal Valley,” wrote Lepor in an e-mail.
Cordero looks up to DeBose, who he became friends with.
“He’s the one [who] taught me everything I know [during deployment],” Cordero said. “We had each other’s back.”
DeBose, a native of Flint, Mich., described Cordero as “dependable” and a quick learner.
“I could always count on him,” DeBose said. “He didn’t need to be supervised.”
Cordero also received a bronze star during his deployment.
“Everything he did in combat led into everything he continues to do on a daily basis back here in the rear,” McComas said. “He works hard, he sets the example for the Marines.”
When he’s not working, Cordero enjoys shooting at the Kokohead Range, either with an AR-15 or a Remington 700. He has also volunteered at the regiment, including Mokapu Elementary School and a family fun day.
Cordero is leaving the Marine Corps soon and plans to attend college, possibly studying criminal justice and work with his father.
“He’s kind of getting ready to transition out of the Marine Corps, but with that being said, he still hasn’t dropped his pack at all,” McComas said. “He still gets up every morning, laces his boots, puts the uniform on, comes in and sets the example.”
Cpl. Curtis Yard, a scout sniper with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, was recently chosen as the III Marine Expeditionary Force Marine of the Year, and received a Navy Achievement Medal a few weeks prior to Cordero.