SUMMARY
ACTIONS
Gunnery Sergeant Joshua Negron is one of the three MARSOC Raiders who were aggressively confronted by an inebriated civilian contractor while on authorized liberty in Erbil, Iraq. One of the Raiders acted in self-defense and neutralized the threat with one punch which rendered the belligerent contractor unconscious. Since the contractor was left lying in the street by his fellow contractors, the Raiders picked him up and took him back to base. (NOTE: All of the above was captured on video)
Out of concern for the unconscious inebriated contractor possibly asphyxiating on his own vomit, the Raiders watched over him through the night. When the contractor stopped breathing, the Raiders performed advanced lifesaving measures in an attempt to resuscitate him. Unfortunately, despite being medevaced to a hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, the contractor died four days later.
REACTION
Military prosecutors charged each Raider with “manslaughter” and the Commanding General moved forward with Courts-Martial for each. Additionally, prior to these Raiders being charged, arraigned, or standing trail, the command removed the Raiders from their jobs, revoked their clearances, and, in overt and widespread official messaging to the command, used the accusations against these three Warriors as instruction on “How not to act while on liberty.”
OUTCOME
Marine Raider Gunnery Sergeant Joshua Negron was finally found not guilty of charges of manslaughter and negligent homicide by a jury of their peers on February 1, 2023.
WHO IS JOSH?
Gunnery Sergeant Negron was born in West Covina, California on May 6th 1982. He was raised and lived in West Covina, California. His parents separated in 1987, and he moved to Rancho Cucamonga, California where he graduated in June 2000 from Etiwanda High School. He is married to Erika Negron and has a daughter.
Gunnery Sergeant Negron enlisted in the Marine Corps on December 4th 2000. He graduated March 3rd, 2001 from 3rd Recruit Training Battalion India Company MCRD, San Diego, CA.
From March 2001 to June 2001 he attended both School of Infantry, and Light Armor Reconnaissance MOS School at Camp Pendleton, CA to become LAV crewmen.
From June 2001 to May 2004 he was assigned as LAV crewmen to 1st Light Armor Reconnaissance Battalion, H&S Company where he served as driver. He deployed with Bravo Company 1st LAR in August 2003 to March 2004 with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit during Operations Iraqi Freedom.
From May 2004 he received Temporary Addition Duty assignment to 1st Reconnaissance Battalion until the completion of Basic Reconnaissance Course in September 2004. From September 2004 to April 2010 he served with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion where he deployed with Charlie Company from August 2005 to March 2006, April to October 2007 for Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Alpha Company with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2009. He received the Bronze Star with Combat “V” for action during OIF 2006, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal in 2009 for professional performance during deployment with the 13th MEU.
From January 7th to January 31st 2010 he attended and past the Assessment & Selection course for Marine Special Operations Command. From April 2010 to July 2015, he was re-assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion. He deployed with Alpha Company in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from April 2011 to October 2011to Mirmandab, Afghanistan. In addition to that deployment he also served an external billet at Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force Bagram, Afghanistan as the Special Operations Task Force -West Liaison Officer.
From March to June 2013 he deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to Kabul, Afghanistan to serve with Special Operations Joint Task Force as the Current Operations Officer. He received the Joint Service Commendation Medal for professional performance while serving with SOJTF. From October 2013 to June 2015 he served as a Training Cell primary instructor for Special Reconnaissance at 1st Marine Raider Battalion.
From July 2015 he executed orders from 1st Marine Raider Battalion to Marine Raider Training Center as a tactical instructor for the school house in SOTC-1. In July 2016 to July 2018 he transferred over to SOTC-3 as one of the primary Special Reconnaissance instructors.
From July 2018 to present he executed orders from the Marine Raider Training Center to 3rd Marine Raider Battalion and received Temporary Additional Duty orders to serve as the primary Battle Captain for Special Operations Task Force North. He deployed from October 2018 to January 2019 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in Erbil, Kurdistan located in Norther Iraq with SOTF-N.
He is currently serving as Assistant Operations Chief for 3rd Marine Raider Battalion Head Quarters Company until present.
His personal decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and 3 Combat Action Ribbons.
CONTACT JOSH
Letters for Josh & the Negron family can be sent to:
GySgt Josh Negron
C/O UAP
ATTN: Elizabeth Brown
1800 Diagonal Rd. Suite 600
Alexandria, VA 22314
