Saratoga Soldier's Bravery Commended

Saratogan Michael Wayne Bitner was one of the soldiers at Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, MD who received the Purple Heart on Sept. 11, 2012.

The military decoration was presented to him by President Barack Obama after being wounded in combat on Aug. 16, 2012 while serving as the turret gunner on a war truck that was hit by a large Improvised Explosive Device.

The vehicle flipped and rolled over causing Bitner serious injuries.
 
On Wednesday evening, the young soldier was honored by members of the Saratoga City Council with a commendation for his courage and service in the Armed Forces.

Bitner joined the U.S. Marines soon after graduating from Saratoga High School in 2008 and attending West Valley College for a short while.

After joining the military in 2009 and completing basic training at the San Diego Marine Recruit Depot, he was deployed to Afghanistan as part of a gunner unit.

From June until August 2012, Bitner served in Afghanistan as a turret gunner bravely entering into harm's way, plus on mounted patrols from his military base in the combat zone, according to the commendation.

Bitner received the rank of corporal in November 2012 and earned the Expert Rifle qualification, the NATO ISAF Medal, two Sea Service deployment ribbons, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Combat Action Ribbon, the commendation said.

" ... The people of Saratoga appreciate and admire the men and women, including Michael Bitner, who serve in the armed forces and make great sacrifices to serve and protect their country and the freedoms enjoyed by all Americans," the commendation stated.