Seven Hurlburt Airmen receive prestigious medals

Published Jan. 25, 2008
By Tech. Sgt. Angela Shepherd
1st SOW Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Seven adventures which started out in the blazing heat of Iraq ended in the brisk chill of Northwest Florida Jan. 25 when seven Airmen from the 1st Special Operations Mission Support Group were awarded three Bronze Stars and four Air Force Combat Action Medals.

Senior Master Sgt. Martin Cortez, and Staff Sgts. Brad Ferguson and Brian Shepherd, 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight, each received a Bronze Star for their support of the Army's 2d Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division in Iraq in 2007.

Combat Action Medals were presented to Tech. Sgts. Gary Barrow and Jason Slevin, and Staff Sgts. Timothy Lloyd and Ian Marsh, all from the 1st Special Operations Security Forces Squadron.

In his opening remarks during the early morning ceremony outside the 1st Special Operations Wing headquarters building, Capt. Jason Glenn, 1st SOMSG executive officer, said, "Bravery is being scared and doing it anyway."

Before the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, few Airmen ventured "outside the wire" of their deployed location. Now, more Airmen are serving alongside Soldiers and Marines, providing crucial ground combat support.

"It's not often mission support folks get recognized for their actions in hostile areas," said Col. Mike Smietana, 1st SOMSG commander. "These seven Airmen epitomized our core value of service before self while they were over there, and they did it with distinction and honor."

The Bronze Star is awarded to a person in any branch of the military service who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the United States, was distinguished by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy.

As the EOD flight superintendent, Sergeant Cortez led his flight throughout their support to the Army in covering an area of 571 square miles in Iraq, including Baghdad International Airport, 10 patrol bases and three forward operating bases.

In his capacity as team leader, Sergeant Ferguson was responsible for the successful elimination of 30 improvised explosive devices, 10 unexploded ordnances and 12 weapons caches.

Sergeant Shepherd, who alternated duty as a team leader and a team member, disposed of 40 IEDs, and recovered and destroyed 50 weapons caches containing 1,900 ordnance items with an explosive weight of more than 10,000 pounds.

"These EOD guys put themselves at risk every single day," Colonel Smietana said. "They are out there disarming IEDs and handling devices that could blow up at any time. They have to be on their toes, because if they make one mistake, they're dead."

The Air Force Combat Action Medal recognizes any military member of the Air Force who actively participated in ground or air combat. The individual must have been under direct and hostile fire while operating in unsecured space, outside the defended perimeter, or physically engaging hostile forces with direct and lethal fire.

During his deployment to Iraq in late 2006, Sergeant Barrow was traveling in a convoy when they were struck by an IED. No one in his team was injured.

While traveling in a different convoy in Iraq in early 2006, Sergeant Slevin came under attack in an ambush which included rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire.

Sergeant Lloyd was traveling in a convoy in Iraq in early 2006 when the lead gun truck noticed an IED. Shortly after the convoy stopped to report it, they came under attack of RPGs and small arms fire. He took command of the situation, told the gun trucks in his convoy where to position for the best security and directed his gunner to engage the enemy when the attack came closer.

In yet another convoy in Iraq in early 2006, Sergeant Marsh's vehicle was struck by and IED. Immediately after the attack, he reported it and requested the commander to proceed to a safe location.

"Convoy security is a risky business," Colonel Smietana said. "I couldn't imagine how I would react if I was in a convoy and the bombs started to drop. I would hope my reaction would be the same as these guys."