403rd Wing Reservists Garner Awards, Achievements During Recent Deployments

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens
  • 403rd Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. --  Ever since 9/11, armed forces members have deployed both nationally and internationally in the fight against terrorism. During this time, Citizen Airmen of the 403rd Wing and the 815th Airlift Squadron "Flying Jennies" played an important role while deployed in 2009 and 2010, setting record achievements and earning several outstanding awards.

Two groups - the 815th AS and the 403rd Security Forces Squadron - performed exceptionally well during their Operation Enduring Freedom deployments.

Several hundred Reservists from the 815th AS and the 403rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, as part of the 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. The 815th AS helped orchestrate 25 combat airdrops with a 100 percent success rate, delivering a record-setting 801 cargo packets in a one-week period. In all, the aircrews flew 358 missions, totaling 1,223 sorties.

"We were able to airdrop and haul more cargo than any other C-130 unit at Al Udeid," said Lt. Col. Denison Tutwiler, 815th AS commander. Much of this was thanks to C-130J-30's two extra pallet positions, he said.

Of those 815th AS members, 138 received Air Medals, 26 received Aerial Achievement Medals and four received Air Force Combat Action Medals.

In addition, seven 403rd AMXS Reservists received Air Force Commendation Medals while several received the Air Force Achievement Medal. In particular, Capt. June Maloney, 815th AMXS officer-in-charge, received the Air Force Achievement Medal for her part in helping her squadron achieve 100 percent maintenance mission effectiveness and a 96.1 percent mission capable rate. This contributed to the squadron receiving the Aircraft Maintenance Unit of the Month award for November and December 2009.

The 403rd SFS deployed in two separate rotations to Iraq, and according to their commander, Maj. Sean McGraw, deployed members were divided up between the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Balad, and the 506th Expeditionary SFS, Kirkuk. Their primary mission was to provide base security and defend Kirkuk Regional Air Base and its more than 6,500 coalition personnel. For their exceptional service in theater, these Citizen Airmen received the Meritorious Service Award.

In regards to individual awards, two Reservists received exceptional recognition for the duty they performed while deployed as part of OEF operations.

One of those individuals, the former 403rd Wing Vice Commander Col. David Konneker, served as the deputy commander for the Central Command Deployment and Distribution Operations Center at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. He received the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for his actions in coordinating airlift of more than 120,000 troops into and out of two major combat theaters.

He and the rest of his team also received the Joint Meritorious Unit Award for improving the logistics needed to increase the amount of ammunition distributed to coalition forces, and for increasing airfield efficiency during the Iraq troop surge, according to Colonel Konneker. "We also helped redirect the troop influx to the theater during the closure of an airfield because of the eruption of the Icelandic volcano," he said.

Lt. Col. Patricia Beyer, 403rd Wing Staff Judge Advocate, also received a highly distinguished award while deployed: the Bronze Star. She served as the deputy director and joint investigative committee lead for the Law and Order Task Force, Multi-National/United States Forces at Joint Service Station Shield, Baghdad.

She led four Joint Investigative Committee Teams responsible for aiding special and conventional forces in capturing and detaining suspected Iraqi insurgents. Their efforts consisted of cultivating relations with members of the Iraqi legal system, assembling cases against suspects and obtaining arrest warrants from Iraqi authorities. In addition, the JIC teams prepared court cases against suspected terrorists for their acts against the sovereign nation of Iraq and coalition forces.

Colonel Beyer's teams opened more than 400 terrorism cases, secured more than 500 arrest and search warrants, and obtained more than 250 detention orders, which resulted in numerous convictions.

Quite often, her teams rode in ground convoys with a security detail through Baghdad to transport detainees to court hearings before Iraqi judges. At other times, they traveled by helicopter with a U.S. Special Forces detail, particularly when flying to western and northern Iraq, cutting down the time it took to move from one "red zone" to another.

"Red zones" were not fortified like the "green/international zone" in Baghdad, where the U.S. Embassy is located. Convoys in "red zones" were more vulnerable to improvised explosive devices, snipers and small arms fire. On some of these trips, the helicopter she was in took small arms fire rounds; no one was injured during these attacks. Part of the reason Colonel Beyer received the Bronze Star was for the number of movements she made through "red zones" - more than 160 during her time there - and her direct contributions to the capture of insurgents.

Colonel Beyer had nothing but praise and admiration for dedication and resiliency of her team members and the other military members who served with her - and for those who continue to serve in the fight against terrorism.

"You feel the camaraderie when you're in a unit at home, but when you're in a foreign country and you're in harm's way, you're constantly looking out for each other. You can't let your guard down," said Colonel Beyer. "Seeing the dedication these people had made for a life-changing experience. I'm very grateful I had the opportunity to go over there and make those types of friends and acquaintances. It was an incredible experience."