McLean Secret Neighbor Honors U.S. Marine Killed in Afghanistan

The director of National Intelligence, one of McLean's secret neighbors, recently presented the second highest intelligence community award for bravery to the parents of an Ohio Marine killed in Afghanistan, according to the U.S. Marines website.

This is a rare glimpse into what goes on in those heavily guarded buildings called Liberty Crossing.

Sgt. Lucas T. Pyeatt, 24, was posthumously awarded the Intelligence Community Medal for Valor during the ceremony at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence Headquarters in McLean, the Marines reported.

James R. Clapper, the director of National Intelligence, presented the medal to Pyeatt’s parents, Scott and Cindy Pyeatt, of West Chester Township, Ohio, in an intimate gathering, consisting of family, friends and other Marines, according to the report.

Pyeatt was killed in action Feb. 5, while serving in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Pyeatt received the award for his exceptional leadership and skills as a signals intelligence team leader while in Afghanistan, the Marines reported.

The medal for valor recognizes heroism and courage in connection with an intelligence community contribution to national security and is the second highest intelligence community award for bravery. Pyeatt’s award is the 10th medal awarded and the fourth awarded posthumously since the medal was established in October 2008. The award was introduced to acknowledge the “extraordinary and mostly unsung accomplishments” of intelligence community professionals.

According to the Marines, Pyeatt originally entered the Corps as an infantryman, but due to an injury was forced to move to a job in intelligence. Pyeatt tackled his new position with tenacity.

While at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, Pyeatt became fluent in both Russian and Pashto, the language of the Pashtun people in Afghanistan. While deployed to Afghanistan, Pyeatt’s job was to translate, monitor and transcribe for Marines and locals, as well as gain information about possible insurgent whereabouts, according to the Marines story.

Because of his job, Pyeatt couldn’t go on many missions, but he insisted on participating in the initial operational convoy. He wanted to understand the environment in to which he was expected to take his men. While on the mission, the convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device. Pyeatt was killed.

He had talked to his parents three days earlier, according to his hometown newspaper.