Two Marines from 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion will be posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for actions while deployed to Afghanistan last year.

The awards will be received by the families of Staff Sgt. Sky R. Mote and Capt. Matthew P. Manoukian respectively during a ceremony at 1st MSOB Headquarters on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 3 p.m.

Both Mote, of El Dorado, Calif., and Manoukian, from Los Altos Hills, Calif., were assigned to Marine Special Operations Team 8133, Marine Special Operations Company C, 1st Marines Special Operations Battalion, Marine Special Operations Regiment, U.S Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command in support of Operation Enduring Freedom when they came under intense enemy fire from a rogue Afghan local policeman attacking from inside the perimeter of their tactical operations center.

Mote, not knowing the actual enemy threat or the status of his Marines, he courageously exposed himself to a hail of gunfire drawing attention away from others and halting the shooter’s pursuit of his comrades. In his final act of bravery, he boldly remained in the open and engaged the shooter, now less than five meters in front of him. He courageously pressed the assault on the enemy until he received further wounds and fell mortally wounded. Mote’s heroic and selfless act halted the enemy assault on his teammates enabling their escape and ultimately forced the enemy to withdraw saving his comrades from further injury or possibly death.

Manoukian, the team leader, was working in the operations center when the initial attack commenced with AK-47 fire ripping through plywood walls and partitions of the operations room. He immediately exposed himself to enemy fire and commanded his Marines to maneuver to safety as he engaged the enemy. Manoukian courageously drew heavy fire upon himself, disrupting the enemy pursuit of his comrades and providing them the security needed to get to safety, ultimately saving their lives. Manoukian continued to engage the enemy until he fell mortally wounded to the shooter’s overwhelming fire.

Major Gen. Mark A. Clark, the commanding general of Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, will present the awards. The Navy Cross is the second highest valor award, second to the Medal of Honor and must be approved by the Secretary of the Navy before being awarded. Mote and Manoukian will become the third and fourth Marines in MARSOC’s seven year history to be awarded the Navy Cross as a result of their extraordinary heroic actions taken during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Media seeking additional information should contact the MARSOC Public Affairs Officer, Capt. Barry Morris via email: barry.morris@socom.mil or via phone: (910) 650-8472.