Malmstrom officer awarded Bronze Star Medal for duty in Iraq

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Korry Leverett
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  An officer at Malmstrom was awarded the Bronze Star Medal Oct. 24 for his duty performance during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lt. Col. Lynden Skinner, currently the 341st Security Forces Group deputy commander, served in Iraq from May to November 2007.

While serving in Iraq, Colonel Skinner distinguished himself as the Joint Defense Operations Center Air Force Liaison Officer for Task Force 1-9 Field Artillery, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Logistical Support Area Anaconda, Iraq.

His day-to-day activities included the supervision, management and direction of base defense and security operations, to include operations to detect, deter, defeat and destroy enemy threats to the base. These actions led to uninterrupted combat and sustainment operations, joint air expeditionary operations and joint and combined special operations throughout Iraq.

Col. Michael Fortney, 341st Missile Wing commander, presented Colonel Skinner the medal during a commander's call Oct. 24.

"We have the opportunity to do something today that we don't get to do very often," said Colonel Fortney. "The Bronze Star Medal is the fourth highest award authorized for combat actions in the United States of America ... this is a significant occasion. Colonel Skinner's actions were definitely worthy of the Bronze Star, and we're glad he's serving with us, with the 341st Missile Wing."

While serving as the Joint Defense Air Operations Center Liaison Officer, Colonel Skinner directed responses to more than 240 mortar and rocket attacks against the base, neutralizing more than 15 enemy mortar and rocket teams while saving countless lives.

"It's a tremendous honor. I didn't expect this level of award and am very humbled to have been submitted for this," said Colonel Skinner. "I was a little surprised ... I worked with the Army unit responsible for security of the installation, and they are the ones that submitted me for the Bronze Star."

As the senior liaison officer between the United States Air Force and the United States Army at LSA Anaconda, Iraq, Colonel Skinner served as the subject matter expert for all Air Force security systems and the deployment of those systems which minimized the effects to base operations and allowed air operations in support of coalition ground forces throughout Iraq to continue.

"The liaison role that I filled allowed me to assist Army units on the ground that supported base defense and conversely, for the Air Force, I was able to share the knowledge I gained from the Army on post-attack reconnaissance, which allowed the wing commander to determine whether to close the runway or not," Colonel Skinner said.

"This is a great joint success story. Colonel Skinner was a key player in the task force's smooth transition and subsequent success," said Army Colonel Kenneth Peterson, commander of Task Force 1-9 Field Artillery. "His outstanding dedication to duty during combat operations in Iraq led to the overwhelming success of the command's mission."