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Crime & Safety

Fallen Los Altos Hills Marine Awarded Navy Cross

The parents of Capt. Matthew P. Manoukian accepted the award on behalf of their son.

Rob Klindt, Neighbor
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A Marine from Los Altos Hills who was killed on duty in Afghanistan in 2012 was posthumously awarded a Navy Cross in a Jan. 18 ceremony held at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Maj. Gen. Mark A. Clark, the commanding general of Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command presented the cross to Socrates Manoukian and Patricia Bamattre-Manoukian on behalf of their son Capt. Matthew P. Manoukian.

Capt. Manoukian was a team commander with 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, MARSOC. He was killed when his team came under enemy fire from an Afghan uniformed police officer attacking from inside the tactical operations center.

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 Manoukian exposed himself to further the enemy fire and commanded his Marines to maneuver to safety as he engaged the enemy. He drew heavy fire upon himself, disrupting the enemy pursuit of his comrades and providing them the security they needed to get to safety. He was mortally wounded in the overwhelming fire.

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