Marine Awarded For Combat Invention

Like many inventions, it began with an unsolved problem.

Deployed to Afghanistan with 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion in 2010, Staff Sgt. Craig S. Cooper, a motor transport chief, found that armored vehicle blast doors on several of the personnel carriers were difficult to open from the outside in the event that they were hit and flipped or rolled over, which was not uncommon. While the vehicles were equipped with a tool that released all their doors, it was too large to carry and sometimes could not be reached if the armored transport was upside down.

"We came up with the idea to make one tool that would open up all the blast locks," said Cooper, 38.

The result was simple, but effective: a pocket-sized device that incorporated a crowbar claw and a wrench. Cooper knew it would come through in a crisis, and in November, a crisis would prove him right.

After returning from taking supplies and equipment to troops at a village stability platform in Afghanistan, an All-Terrain Utility Vehicle with his unit was caught in a flash flood when it tried to veer around some locals near a bridge. The vehicle rolled, and the door release tool was trapped underneath, with four Marines locked inside.

"The guys jumped up there and I got up there," Cooper said. "The guys asked, 'How do I get them out of there?' and I said, 'Use the tool on your vest.' It took us like two minutes to get them out."

That night, Cooper was asked about the details of the incident by his executive officer, and he told him about the invention and how it worked, but thought little of the exchange.

"I didn't hear anything else about," Cooper said. "I thought I was in trouble. I thought I did something wrong."

But after he returned to the states, he received word from U.S. Special Operations Command that he would be recognized at an upcoming ceremony with an award created just for him.

The Dr. Christian J. Lambertsen Award, named for Army Medical Corps officer who invented the SCUBA diving apparatus during World War II, recognizes operational innovation among the forces. In May, Cooper became the first recipient of the award, which was presented to him at a SOCOM ceremony by Lambertsen's two sons.

Now at Camp Lejeune's Combat Logistics Battalion 2, Cooper said he has no new inventions planned, but will use his natural problem-solving knack if required.

"It's just if I see something and I can fix it, I will," he said. "It does help a lot to know that somebody will recognize it or listen if you do come up with something that makes sense."

Cooper said he has learned that a company may be mass-producing the device he invented for the military. Meanwhile, Special Operations Forces officials hope to have occasion to distribute more Lambertsen Awards, following Cooper's example.