Early Life and Military Career
Stann was born at Yokota Air Base in Japan and grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Scranton Preparatory School and subsequently enrolled in the United States Naval Academy in 1999 (Class of 2003). He played football for the Midshipmen as a middle linebacker while at the Naval Academy. Upon graduation, he was assigned as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps and achieved the rank of Captain.
On May 8, 2005, then Lieutenant Stann was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, and he commanded the 2nd Mobile Assault Platoon. His unit was ambushed by insurgents during Operation Matador while trying to secure Ramana Bridge, near Karabilah. Stann and his Marines held out for six days under heavy attacks while coordinating air and tank support that eventually allowed them to be relieved on May 14, 2005. All 42 Marines in Stann's platoon survived. The following March, Stann was awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest award for valor in combat. Part of the citation reads: "Second Lieutenant Stann personally directed two casualty operations, three vehicle recovery operations and multiple close air support missions under enemy small arms, machine gun and mortar fire in his 360-degree fight." This mission was shown on the episode, "Iraq's Most Wanted" on the History Channel show, Shootout!, in which Stann was interviewed. His actions were noted by President George W. Bush during one of his speeches. He left active duty in the Marine Corps as of May 2008. Captain Stann was also the commanding officer in the 8th Marine Regiment Headquarters Company while continuing to fight in the WEC.
Marine Corps officials have stated that they continue to use Stann's story as a recruiting tool, and he attributes his success in mixed martial arts to the foundation he learned fighting at the Marine Corps Martial Arts Center for Excellence in Quantico, Va. "He has been an ideal spokesperson and role model", said Lt. Col. Mike Zeliff, assistant chief of staff for advertising with Marine Corps Recruiting Command.
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