Brad Colbert

Brad Colbert
Colbert giving a speech in September 2012
Nickname	Iceman
Born	(1974-07-25) July 25, 1974 (age 51)
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1995–2016 [1]
Rank	Master sergeant
Unit	3rd Recon Company 1st Recon Company 1st Reconnaissance Battalion Royal Marines Commandos 1st Force Recon Company Marine Detachment, Fort Benning GA Marine Corps Systems Command
Battles / wars	Global War on Terrorism War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Awards	Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with 'V' device)

Brad Colbert (born July 25, 1974) is a retired United States Marine, whose platoon's role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq was featured in a series of articles in Rolling Stone by Evan Wright. Wright was an embedded reporter who rode in the backseat of Colbert's vehicle during this time until his departure on May 4, 2003. Wright later expanded these articles into the book Generation Kill which was turned into a HBO miniseries of the same name in which Colbert was portrayed by Alexander Skarsgård.

Career

A U.S. Reconnaissance Marine, Colbert was nicknamed the "Iceman" by his colleagues, for his ability to stay calm in battle and his overall military competency. During the War in Afghanistan, he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for valor for his role in taking out an enemy missile battery. ^[2] In the Iraq War, his platoon, the 2nd Platoon of Bravo Company of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion led by Lieutenant Nathaniel Fick, was often at the spearhead of the initial invasion, with his team, of which he was team leader, often on point.

For his efforts during the Iraq War, Colbert received a combat meritorious promotion to Staff Sergeant and went on to serve two years with the Royal Marine Commandos as part of an exchange program. ^[3] He was later promoted again to Gunnery Sergeant and served as the Company Gunnery Sergeant of H&S Company of 1st Recon. ^[4] He served two additional tours in Iraq and left the Reconnaissance community in 2010. ^[5]

In October 2012, Colbert was a special skills operations chief at the U.S. Army's airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia. ^[6] He was responsible for making sure that Marines who attend the program receive the necessary skills and meet their requirements. He regularly leapt from C-130s to reinforce proper jump techniques.^{[ citation needed ]}

Military.com reported that in July 2016, Colbert was still on active duty as a project officer for Raids and Amphibious Reconnaissance at Marine Corps Systems Command. Colbert retired from the Marine Corps as a master sergeant on October 24, 2016. ^[7]

Personal life

Colbert was adopted into a Jewish family. He has been a speaker on combat related PTSD issues for the Heroes and Healthy Families organization. ^{[5] [8] [9]}

Awards

Combatant Diver Badge
Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia
1st Row	Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two award star & valor device						Army Commendation Medal
2nd Row	Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with three award stars			Combat Action Ribbon with one award star			Navy and Marine Presidential Unit Citation			Navy Unit Commendation with two bronze stars
3rd Row	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation			Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation			Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal four bronze stars			National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star
4th Row	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal			Southwest Asia Service Medal			Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one bronze star			Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze stars
5th Row	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal			Global War on Terrorism Service Medal			Humanitarian Service Medal			Sea Service Ribbon with one silver and three bronze stars

In popular culture

• In HBO's television mini-series adaptation of Evan Wright's book, Generation Kill (2004), Colbert is portrayed by the Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård.

References

1. "After Iraq, the Marines of 'Generation Kill' Regret Nothing". February 25, 2019.
2. Wright (2004), p.22
3. Wright (2004), p. 351
4. "Raider Report" (PDF). 1st Recon Bn Association. May 2008.
5. "'Iceman' aids others with post-combat stress". Marine Corps Times. October 14, 2012. Archived from the original on September 4, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
6. Hall, Kuande (July 9, 2012). "Airborne! Taking a leap for a more capable Corps". Marines Magazine. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
7. "13 Years After Iraq, the Marines of 'Generation Kill' Regret Nothing". military.com. December 22, 2016.
8. Young, Joshua (November 2, 2012). "I MEF Marines attend leadership awareness conference". Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
9. "Hooked On Adrenaline - Part 1 - GySgt. Brad Colbert". YouTube. February 18, 2011. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.

Further reading

• Wright, Evan (2004). Generation Kill . Putnam Adult. ISBN   978-0-399-15193-4. OCLC   54826116.

External links

• Generation Kill: Sgt. Brad "Iceman" Colbert