IRAQ: Marine receives Bronze Star for bravery.

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In a ceremony Friday at Camp Pendleton, Marine Cpl. Francisco J. Valles received the Bronze Star for bravery and leadership during an attack by Iraqi insurgents Aug. 2.

When his patrol was ambushed, Valles helped pull a wounded Marine to safety, provided emergency aid to several others, and killed a suicide-bomber who was dashing toward the Marines.

‘’I shot him in the chest and he blew up,’ Valles said matter-of-factly.

On his wrist, Valles wears a bracelet with the name of his best friend, Lance Cpl. Christian Vasquez, who was killed in the attack. ‘He was with me that day, he’ll always be with me,’ he said.

Valles, who grew up in Montebello, Calif., is set to redeploy to Iraq in August with the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. He said he hopes to use his experience to help younger, less seasoned troops.

‘I want to go back so I can make sure all the Marines who go with me come back alive,’ he said.

Valles is 21 years old.

Tony Perry, at Camp Pendleton

Photo: Cpl. Francisco Valles. Credit: Tony Perry/Los Angeles Times