Fick was trained as an infantry officer and was eventually assigned as a platoon commander to 1st Battalion 1st Marines . He was an officer in the Amphibious Ready Group of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit based in Darwin , Northern Territory training with the Australian Army for humanitarian operations deployment to East Timor until the September 11 attacks . He then led his platoon into Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom to support the War on Terror . Upon his return to the United States in March 2002 , he was recommended for Marine reconnaissance training . He also completed Army Airborne School . He subsequently led Second Platoon of Bravo Company of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion during the invasion of Iraq in 2003
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Nathaniel Fick