On June 2, 2004, the First Battalion, 6th Marines launched Operation Asbury Park, an mission that aimed to push deep into the Taliban stronghold near Dey Chopan, Afghanistan. Prior to this expedition twenty-four-year-old Sergeant Anthony Viggiani and his men in Charlie Company had seen little combat as they uncovered considerable caches of arms, ammunition and ordnance. However, their luck was not to continue. That day near Siah Chub Kalay, they were ambushed by anti-coalition militia (ACM) and proceeded to fight an intense seven hour battle with the enemy.

On the following day as the company entered the village of Khabargho, they spotted approximately 20 heavily armed men fleeing into the nearby mountains. Squads led by Viggiani and Sergeant Ryan West moved after the enemy. Realizing that the Marines would be hard to escape, the ACM left five fighters to cover their retreat farther into the mountains. Three hid in a cave on the right side of the valley; one positioned himself on the opposite hillside, while the fifth fighter waited for the Marines in the valley floor. The Marines made their way over the rough, rock strewn terrain into the valley under intense fire. As the Marines on the left slope descended into the valley, Lance Corporal James Gould was hit in the calf by a 7.62 round. Corporal Randy Wood helped him find shelter behind a rock. They were targeted with a heavy barrage of bullets from the cave across the valley. One of the bullets ricocheted off a nearby rock and cut across Wood’s cheek.

As Viggiani made his way down the right slope, he saw a break in the rock. When he leaned through the opening, he spotted a piece of cloth. Realizing he had found the ACM’s hideout, he fired his rifle into the opening several times, paused and fired again; but the hostile firing continued. Realizing that rifle power was futile and a grenade was needed to eliminate the enemy, Viggiani sprinted toward two nearby Marines to retrieve one. As he returned to the cave under heavy fire, the ACM fighter across the valley hit Viggiani in the leg. Blood oozed from the wound above his boot. Intent on reaching the cave and eliminating the enemy, Viggiani did not notice. He quickly made his way over the rocks. When he reached the cave, he pulled the pin and tossed the grenade inside flattening himself against the rocks for protection against the oncoming explosion.

With the three fighters silenced, help reached Gould and Wood. The Marines were able to eliminate the others; and in less than ten minutes after entering the valley the Marines were ready to move out. It was then that his comrades noticed the crimson stain above Viggiani’s boot. Encouraged by his fellow Marines to return to the aid station, Viggiani refused, determined to continue with his company deeper into the mountains after the enemy. After taking two aspirin, he was once again on the move. For his relentless determination in destroying a brutal enemy, Viggiani was awarded the Navy’s second highest award for valor, the Navy Cross.