Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. -- "For heroic achievement in connection with combat operations against the enemy as Religious Program Specialist, I Marine Expeditionary Force ... in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom."

January 2003, thousands of I Marine Expeditionary Force Marines and Sailors deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. First Battalion, 11th Marines out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., were among them.

From "grunt" to "admin" clerk, every element of the air ground task force was represented - and they had their "doc" to patch them up, and their chaplain to get them through...

"On 25 March 2003, as a part of a religious ministry team providing Chaplain support to 1st Battalion, 11th Marines in the vicinity of An Nasariya, Iraq, the Battalion came under small arms and machine gun fire ... on the western side ..."

And the religious programs specialist - to make sure the chaplain, who can't carry a weapon, made it through.

"With total disregard for his personal safety, Petty Officer 1st Class Robert Page provided protection to the Chaplain by placing himself between the Chaplain and the incoming rounds."

"When I met RP1 he said 'I'm going to be your RP and I'm going to take care of you,'" said Navy Cmdr. Rabbi Irving A. Elson, Jewish Chaplain, MCAS Miramar.

A last minute replacements for the 1/11 Chaplain, Elson, whose father was a Marine during the Korean War, and Page, who was a former Marine staff sergeant, felt it was necessary to stay where they could have the most impact on Marines in those crucial times. So they stayed with regimental combat team one, placing themselves in harms way.

"When the battalion began taking fire from the right flank position, he immediately took action to ensure the Chaplain's safety by standing over him and using his person as protective cover."

"There are two people a battalion can't do without - the Skipper or (Commanding Officer) and the Chaplain," said Page, who is the lead petty officer for the I MEF Chaplain's office. "That's my job - take care of the Chaplain. You don't think about it. You just do it."

March 25, in Northern California, Lori Page woke from a "dead sleep," with her heart racing and terrified for her husband.

"In my mind, in my heart, I knew that I just needed to pray," she said. "It wasn't until after he returned home that I found out the situation they were in. He said to me 'Lori, I didn't think we were going to make it,' but it's in his blood. He was a Marine when I met him, and he did just what he was trained to do."

"When the Battalion received heavy fire, he immediately moved the Chaplain from the vehicle (in which they were traveling), dug in, and covered the Chaplain with his body. Simultaneously, he returned fire and directed other Marines around him to provide the covering fire in order to ensure the Chaplain's safety."

The Rabbi joked, "I used to say that they had to send me with the biggest RP. Well, when we were under fire, he just picked me up and threw me out of the vehicle."

"By his zealous initiative, courageous actions, and exceptional dedication to duty, Petty Officer First Class Page reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of United States Naval Service."

January 23, Petty Officer 1st Class Page was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat V for valor in a special ceremony during a luncheon commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the religious programs specialist rating.

As the citation was read in the packed Hornet room of the MCAS Miramar Officers' Club, two families stood together. Francine Elson, wife of Rabbi Elson, and Lori Page, each with a toddler at hand, shared their tears, listening to the detailed account.

"It was the first time I heard some of the details," said Francine Elson who has been married to the Rabbi, and fellow Philadelphia native, for more than 18 years. "It was hard to listen to."

Had it not been for his military career, Lori Page may not have met her husband whose hometown is literally across the country in Columbus, Ga. They met when he was a reservist in the Marine infantry.

Page left active duty in 1986. After completing college, he felt the pull of the Corps and joined the Marine Corps Reserves. Throughout the next 20 years, Page was activated for operations such as High Roller, Capstone and Weed Eater in Grenada. He said his experience in Operation Desert Storm assisted him in Iraqi Freedom.

When his faith led him to leave the Marine Corps and join the Navy Reserve, truly serving God and country, Lori was by his side.

"Am I surprised at what he did to protect (Rabbi Elson)? No," she said. "But I am so proud of him. It is humbling."

When it was pointed out that Page, who is gearing up to redeploy, might be the first Religious Programs Specialist to receive the Bronze Star with Combat V for valor, Page just shrugged said, "I made a commitment to his family, to him, and to God."