Whether or not one was expected to perform Navy Cross-level acts of heroism... in FY2005, US Navy Petty Officers were paid about $100 per day & encouraged to shoot all the ammunition they could carry along Eurasia's most unlikely goat-trails...

During the fire fight, Axelson was shot in the chest and head but continued to fight alongside Luttrell until a blast from a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) separated them.

Along with injuries sustained from the blast, Axelson died of bullet wounds to the chest and head.

When U.S. Navy personnel arrived to retrieve his body for burial, they found that it was a few hundred yards away from the RPG blast location.

Axelson was reported by Luttrell to have had three magazines remaining when the blast took place, however, when his body was found, he had only one magazine remaining, which indicated that either Axelson continued to fight even after the blast or the ammo reserves were picked by insurgents.

born: June 25, 1976

killed in action: June 28, 2005

age 29.

Citation:

For extraordinary heroism in actions against the enemy

while serving in a four-man

Special Reconnaissance element with

SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE,

Naval Special Warfare Task unit,

Afghanistan from 27 to 28 June 2005.

Petty Officer Axelson demonstrated extraordinary heroism

in the face of grave danger in the vicinity of

Asadabad,

Konar Province,

Afghanistan.

Operating in the middle of an enemy-controlled area, in extremely rugged terrain, his Special Reconnaissance element was tasked with locating a high-level Anti-Coalition Militia leader, in support of a follow-on direct action mission to disrupt enemy activity. On 28 June 2005, the element was spotted by Anti-Coalition Militia sympathizers, who immediately revealed their position to the militia fighters.

As a result, the element directly encountered the enemy.

Demonstrating exceptional resolve and fully understanding the gravity of the situation, Petty Officer Axelson's element bravely engaged the militia, who held both a numerical and positional advantage.

The ensuing firefight resulted in numerous enemy personnel killed, with several of the Navy members suffering casualties.

Ignoring his injuries and demonstrating exceptional composure, Petty Officer Axelson advised the teammate closest to him to escape while he provided cover fire.

With total disregard for his own life and thinking only of his teammate's survival,

he continued

to attack the enemy, eliminating additional militia fighters,

until he was mortally wounded by enemy fire.

A champion of

freedom,

Petty Officer Axelson will be remembered for his self-sacrificing actions in the continuing Global War on Terrorism. By his undaunted courage, fortitude under fire, and unwavering dedication to duty, Petty Officer Axelson reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

He gallantly gave his life for the cause of freedom.