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PORTLAND AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ore.- Two Oregon Air Guardsmen
were recently awarded Bronze Star Medals during a ceremony here for
leading engineers during a recent deployment to Afghanistan, despite
persistent rocket attacks and indirect fire.
Lt. Col. Jason
Lay and Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Gilbert served alongside one
another during a recent deployment to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan,
in support of operations Enduring Freedom and Resolute Support.
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Oregon Air Guardsmen Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Gilbert and Lt. Col.
Jason Lay received Bronze Star Medals for their meritorious service
during deployment in 2014 (April 20 - Oct. 14) to Bagram
Airfield, Afghanistan, in support of operations Enduring Freedom and
Resolute Support. (Image created by USA Patriotism! from photos by U.S. Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Brandon Boyd)
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In attendance was Maj. Gen. Daniel Hokanson, adjutant
general, Oregon, who praised both Airmen for their
dedication to the mission.
"They set a new
expectation for others to aspire to," Hokanson said.
Both service members are assigned to the 142nd Fighter Wing
Civil Engineer Squadron here and deployed with the 455th
Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron from April 20, 2014 to
Oct. 14, 2014.
"Lt. Col Lay and Chief Master Sgt.
Gilbert are good people, hard workers - and they fully
embraced the mission - to keep the airway open and to keep
the people safe on base," said Chief Master Sgt. John
McIlvain of the 142nd Civil Engineer Squadron, who served
with Lay and Gilbert on the deployment.
Lay received
the Bronze Star for meritorious service as the commander of
the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, at Bagram
Air Field, Afghanistan. He led a team of 101 total force
engineers who managed a 740-acre airfield, executed 970 work
orders and oversaw 35 construction projects worth more than
$123 million.
The actions of these Oregon Airmen
ensured the airfield remained capable of supporting ongoing
combat operations at the busiest combat logistics center
operated by the Department of Defense.
"The
leadership of Lt. Col. Lay and Chief Master Sgt. Gilbert
enabled them to push themselves and their team to very high
levels," said Col. Donna Prigmore, 142nd mission support
group commander.
Gilbert received the Bronze Star for
his distinguished service as chief enlisted manager of the
455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. He led 99
Airmen through the completion of 970 work orders, 13 high
priority projects and maintenance of the airfield.
Prigmore said both awardees possess a tremendous amount of
technical expertise and the leadership needed to accomplish
the mission under tight deadlines.
"It was a
fast-paced, no-fail mission," said Gilbert about the
significance of the deployment. "We helped oversee the
transition between Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation
Enduring Support, which included a large decrease in the
number of boots on the ground."
The Bronze Star Medal
was established in 1944 and is the fourth-highest individual
military award and the ninth-highest by order of precedence
in the U.S. military. It is awarded to members of the armed
forces who distinguish themselves by heroic or meritorious
service in a combat zone.
By U.S. Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Brandon Boyd
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2015
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