18 Airmen receive medals for service while deployed

  • Published
  • By Valerie Mullett
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Five members of the 819th RED HORSE Squadron received Bronze Star Medals; one received a Defense Meritorious Service Medal; and 12 members plus one from the 341st Civil Engineer Squadron received Air Force Combat Action Medals Jan. 29 for their efforts while deployed March through October 2009.

All medals were presented by Maj. Gen. William Holland, 9th Air Force commander, at the RED HORSE hangar while other squadron members, family and friends looked on.

"I have never seen sharper Airmen in my life than those who walked across the stage today," General Holland said. "As the 9th Air Force commander, I couldn't be more proud."

The general said the recipients couldn't have earned their medals on their own.

"Each and every one of these fine Airmen received the proper education and training they needed to be able to go into these environments and lead," General Holland said. "That is a testament to the rest of the Airmen in the squadron who ensured they were prepared."

The following individuals were awarded the Bronze Star medal. The Bronze Star is awarded to military servicemembers who distinguished themselves by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy.

Capt. Birju Patel

Capt. Birju Patel selected, trained and led a 33-man team of combat engineers to successfully complete 41 combat logistics patrol missions. In doing so, the team traveled more than 4,600 miles supporting four Coalition forward-operating bases throughout southern Afghanistan.

He and his team moved more than 3,800 tons of construction equipment and materials, enduring extreme terrain and climate, as well as multiple improvised explosive devices and one small arms fire attack. With a 97 percent mission success rate, 45 construction projects valued at $53M were completed, according to his medal citation.

Chief Master Sgt. Brian Richardson

Chief Master Sgt. Brian Richardson was assigned as the group superintendent for the 1st Expeditionary RED HORSE Group while supporting ground and air operations against the enemy at his deployed location.

He was the driving force behind organizing resources to enable 584 Airmen from 84 units form into two elite squadrons to support operations at 13 sites in three countries. He also manages all manning and equipment requirements to ensure 104 projects worth $75M were accomplished to execute the command's priority construction program. His initiative and tireless drive were critical to unit effectiveness and esprit de corps, according to his medal citation.

Senior Master Sgt. Karen Beers

Senior Master Sgt. Karen Beers is an operations superintendent here at Malmstrom where she manages a multi-million dollar RED HORSE Squadron budget. She also plans, organizes and manages heavy horizontal and vertical construction for all RHS troop training projects. While deployed, she served in a similar role managing more than $180M in vehicles and equipment to support operations throughout the area of responsibility.

Specifically, she spearheaded more than 21 construction projects including two of the Army's highest priority projects, valued at $11.2 M. Her vast engineering expertise and relentless drive enabled the rapid base build-up of six new facilities within three months. Additionally, she guided the construction of a $2.5M Life Support area, complete with 43,000 cubic feet of concrete and 55,000 square feet of facilities to house more than 500 Army personnel.

"The difference between my job here and deployed is that I supervise engineers at home, whereas, when I deploy, I supervise and manage a site that is made up of all RED HORSE specialty codes," Sergeant Beers said.

The milestones she and her team accomplished weren't without obstacles.

"The biggest challenge we had to face was mortar attacks while we were trying to build - and our communications," she said. "Often times the alarms would sound to take cover, but because of the machinery we were using, we couldn't hear the warnings. It made the work environment challenging."

Even with the challenges, she led her team to many successes.

"I am very humbled to receive the Bronze Star," Sergeant Beers said. "But my Airmen are the real heroes. They did the construction, outside in 100-plus degree weather, 12-hours a day, six days a week for six months. I accepted the medal in honor of what they did - what WE accomplished."

Master Sgt. Vernon Moncur

Master Sgt. Vernon Moncur is the NCOIC of Construction Team Echo here at Malmstrom. He leads a 20-person team in heavy equipment operation to handle large-scale airfields construction projects during peacetime and contingency situation. For him, his job while deployed didn't change very much. As the airfields superintendent, he directed 25 combat engineers and managed a 27-piece heavy equipment fleet worth more than $4M.

He orchestrated the completion of 10 regional bed-down projects, directly supporting the president's surge order to deploy addition troops to Afghanistan. Some of them included a 745,000 square-foot helicopter ramp, five taxiways, 31 hardened parking spots and a 157,000 square-foot "masterpiece" which provided 47 Coalitions aircraft with four vertical take-off and landings pads, according to his medal citation.

"It was very challenging for me to be away from my family," said Sergeant Moncur. "But professionally, the biggest challenge we faced was logistics and keeping the projects on target for completion. Getting the supplies you need to complete the projects on time is always a struggle."

Not a struggle enough to thwart his success story.

"The Airmen did a remarkable job and it was a total 100 percent team effort," Sergeant Moncur said. "This medal is a tribute to them and I share it with them."

Master Sgt. William Brooks

Master Sgt. William Brooks is a vehicle fleet manager at Malmstrom, in charge of a 255-vehicle fleet valued at more than $30M. He also supervised 22 personnel. While deployed, he served as an assistant convoy commander, engaged in group combat against the enemy in Afghanistan.

He was responsible for a 33-person team of combat engineers who successfully completed 41 combat logistics patrol missions over 4,600 miles supporting four bases throughout the area of responsibility. He provided leadership and rear security while turning an 11-vehicle convoy around on a narrow mountain road enabling them to exit from a fire fight that lasted 22 minutes and five kilometers.

"We were a self-supported convoy team made up of RED HORSE personnel from tractor trailer drivers to gun truck support," Sergeant Brooks said. "Our job was to deliver construction equipment, supplies and materials to four forward operating bases in southern Afghanistan."

He, too, gives praise to his Airmen for being awarded a Bronze Star medal.

"I think all the credit for my award goes to the guys that put their lives on the line countless times over the six-month deployment," Sergeant Brooks said.

Capt. Benjamin Simon

In addition to the five Bronze Star medals, one Defense Meritorious Service Medal was presented to Capt. Benjamin Simon. The DMSM is the third-highest award bestowed upon members of the United States military by the U.S. Department of Defense. The medal is awarded in the name of the Secretary of Defense to members who, while serving in a joint activity, distinguish themselves by non-combat outstanding achievement or meritorious service.

Captain Simon managed 35 large construction projects over six Iraqi provinces and the city of Baghdad. He also engineered electrical rewiring and safety repairs to the command and communications systems, which allowed the task force to continue its missions unimpeded for eight months, according to his citation.

Air Force Combat Action Medal
Twelve Airmen from the 819th RHS and one Airman from the 341st Civil Engineer Squadron were also awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal for their efforts March through October 2009 while deployed. The medal is awarded to Airmen who have been involved in direct fighting situations where they risked their lives in an enemy engagement.

The medal recipients are:

Capt. Birju Patel

Master Sgt. William Brooks

Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Barnes

Tech. Sgt. Martin Hannenburg

Tech. Sgt. Jason Joseph

Tech. Sgt. Brian Woods

Staff Sgt. Brian Crabtree

Staff Sgt. Joseph Dickison

Staff Sgt. Aaron Heliker (341st CES)

Staff Sgt. Emmanuel Martinez

Staff Sgt. Steven Scoggin

Senior Airman David Menotti, Jr.

Airman 1st Class Brice Robertson