MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- While fencing in high school and college, every elegant move made by Capt. Brain R. von Kraus was well thought out, even in the most heated duels.
These same swift, but calculated decisions were made on Jan. 25, 2004 during an ambush where then 1st Lt. Von Kraus displayed exceptional bravery as he dismounted his vehicle and entered the enemy kill zone to aid his stricken Marines.
For these actions, von Kraus was awarded the Silver Star here Feb. 8 by Maj. Gen. Richard F. Natonski, commanding general of the 1st Marine Division.
“It was a typical clear and hot day when we were conducting a patrol just south of Fallujah with 15 Marines and five vehicles,” said von Kraus, then the platoon commander of 1st Platoon, Company A, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division from Boston. “I had one of my three-man teams conduct a security sweep to our rear, and they opened fire on a group of insurgents who were setting up an ambush on a concrete overpass.”
Once the three Marines opened fire with their M4 Carbines and M203 grenade launchers, the enemy returned fire and opened up machine gun fire from a 12.7 millimeter machine gun position which raked the long axis of the convoy and disabled several vehicles.
This is when von Kraus heroically led three separate assaults on several enemy strong points, personally destroying insurgents with rifle fire and grenades.
“The whole thing felt like it lasted about 10 minutes,” von Kraut recalled. “But the Marine on the radio told us the firefight lasted an hour. It went by so fast.”
His exemplary leadership and tenacious fighting spirit inspired all who observed his personal valor and turned the tide of battle in the face of a numerically superior and fanatical enemy.
“The mission was a success because the Marines in my platoon kicked ass and followed their training all the way through,” von Kraus stated. “This is more like a platoon award than an individual award.”
According to his parents Roxana and Rudiger von Kraus, Brian has always been a humble man who puts his all into everything he does.
“He is extremely disciplined, a perfectionist who loves what he does even though he doesn’t talk about it too much,” said his mother Roxana. “I can see how much he loves his (Marines) and the respect they give him for that.”
His father Rudiger added that he has always lived a delicately balanced lifestyle, and it shows through his accomplishments.
“I’m very proud of him, I couldn’t think of any father who wouldn’t be,” Rudiger said.