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Fallen Marine receives new intel medal

Lance Cpl. James Swain gave his life during the struggle for Fallujah, Iraq, in November 2004.

On Friday, almost four years later, Swain’s family and friends, along with members of the nation’s intelligence community, will gather at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., to dedicate the James E. Swain Annex, which will house an extension of the Marine Corps Intelligence Activity building.

Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell also will award Swain’s family the first ever Intelligence Community Medal of Valor, its second-highest award for bravery. The Intelligence Cross is its highest bravery award.

A member of the 1st Marine Division out of Camp Pendleton, Calif., Swain, 20, was attached to Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regimental Combat Team in Iraq. As an intelligence specialist, his primary job during the battle of Fallujah was to provide targeting information to fellow Marines slugging it out with the enemy.

On Nov. 15, 2004, Swain volunteered to man a vehicle-mounted M240G machine gun as fellow Marines swept a building looking for insurgents. He spotted an ambush and opened fire to suppress the attack.

Swain was fatally wounded in the fight.

Brig. Gen. R.M. Lake, Marine Corps director of Intelligence, recommended Swain for the medal, citing his heroism and courage as “values we all strive to meet.”