Brad Colbert
{{Short description|United States Marine}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= Brad Colbert
|image= Master Sergeant Brad Colbert.jpg
|image_size=
|alt=
|caption= Colbert giving a speech in September 2012
|birth_date= {{birth date and age|1974|07|25}}
|death_date=
|birth_place=
|death_place=
|placeofburial=
|placeofburial_label=
|nickname= Iceman
|allegiance= {{flagu|United States|name=United States of America|1960|size=23px}}
|branch= {{flag|United States Marine Corps}}
|rank= 25px Master sergeant
|commands=
|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= Global War on Terrorism
|awards={{nowrap|File:Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal ribbon.svg Navy and Marine Corps
Commendation Medal (with 'V' device)}}
|laterwork=
}}
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.Wright (2004), p.22 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.Wright (2004), p. 351 He was later promoted again to Gunnery Sergeant and served as the Company Gunnery Sergeant of H&S Company of 1st Recon.{{cite web |url=http://www.1streconbnassociation.org/Rendezvous/Raider_Report_-_email%5B1%5D.pdf |title=Raider Report |date=May 2008 |publisher= 1st Recon Bn Association }} He served two additional tours in Iraq and left the Reconnaissance community in 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20121014/NEWS/210140317/-8216-Iceman-aids-others-with-post-combat-stress |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130904230511/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20121014/NEWS/210140317/-8216-Iceman-aids-others-with-post-combat-stress |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 4, 2013 |title='Iceman' aids others with post-combat stress |work=Marine Corps Times |date=October 14, 2012 |accessdate=4 September 2013 }}
In October 2012, Colbert was a special skills operations chief at the U.S. Army's airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia.{{cite web |url= http://marinesmagazine.dodlive.mil/2012/07/09/airborne-taking-a-leap-for-a-more-capable-corps/ |title=Airborne! Taking a leap for a more capable Corps |first=Kuande |last=Hall |work=Marines Magazine |date=July 9, 2012 |accessdate=4 September 2013}} 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|date=July 2013}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/12/22/13-years-iraq-marines-generation-kill-regret-nothing.html|title=13 Years After Iraq, the Marines of 'Generation Kill' Regret Nothing|publisher=military.com|date=22 December 2016}}
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.{{cite web |url= http://www.dvidshub.net/news/97185/mef-marines-attend-leadership-awareness-conference |title=I MEF Marines attend leadership awareness conference |first=Joshua |last=Young|work=Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System |date=November 2, 2012 |accessdate=4 September 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GASlTbaOAdA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/GASlTbaOAdA |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Hooked On Adrenaline - Part 1 - GySgt. Brad Colbert|work=YouTube|date=18 February 2011 }}{{cbignore}}
Awards
| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan="4"|65px |
| colspan="4"|250px |
| colspan="2" align="right"|{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106}}21px
|colspan="2" align="left"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=3|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Combat Action Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=U.S. Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=4|type=service-star|ribbon=Marine Corps Good Conduct ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991–2016).svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Afghanistan Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Humanitarian Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=8|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
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
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- {{cite book |first=Evan |last=Wright |authorlink=Evan Wright |title=Generation Kill |year=2004 |publisher=Putnam Adult |isbn=978-0-399-15193-4 |oclc=54826116 }}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qG3qy6UodnQ Generation Kill: Sgt. Brad "Iceman" Colbert]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Colbert, Brad}}
Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Iraq War