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 BAGRAM
AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (9/17/2011) – Soldiers and friends of Task
Force Falcon, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, and Task Force Poseidon,
82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, gathered Sept. 13 to honor the life
and service of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Keith F. Rudd, a flight medic
with All American Dustoff.
Rudd, a native of Winder, Ga.,
arrived, with his unit, to eastern Afghanistan in August to replace
10th CAB's medical evacuation company.
“If Rudd was your
medic, you could be rest assured of two things,” said U.S. Army Sgt.
Robert Smith of Savannah, Ga., a colleague and friend of the fallen
medic. “One, he would come to get you without hesitation. Two, he
would not stop until you were safe and in good care.”
Rudd
joined the Army May 2003 and completed initial training at Fort
Sill, Okla., and Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He served in Fort Lewis,
Wash., and Fort Stewart, Ga., before being assigned to Fort Bragg,
N.C., May 2011. His previous deployments include Iraq in 2007 and
Afghanistan in 2009, a tour with 3rd CAB's medevac company which
10th CAB replaced August 2010.
“As a flight medic, Staff Sgt.
Rudd performed with distinction, courage and honor, and he saved
countless lives,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Dennis McKiernan, TF
Phoenix commander. “He had a distinguished career with two combat
tours in our nation's global war against terror.”
Rudd
recently became the unit's senior medical trainer said U.S. Army
Maj. Graham Bundy of Sussex, Wis., and All American Dustoff
commander, who added that he was fortunate to meet Rudd when he was
in another unit.
Soldiers and friends of Task Force Falcon, 10th Combat Aviation
Brigade, and Task Force Poseidon, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade,
gathered Sept. 13, 2011 to honor the service and life of U.S. Army Staff
Sgt. Keith F. Rudd, a flight medic with All American Dustoff,
Company C, Task Force Phoenix, 10th CAB. Photo by Army Sgt. Amanda
Jo Brown |
“He struck me as a no nonsense non-commissioned officer,”
said Bundy. “He had heard we were deploying again and wanted
to be on our team. He did not disappoint us at all. He will
be truly missed.”
Rudd's decorations include the Air
Medal with numeral 3, Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak
Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with 5 OLC, Army
Superior Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, national
Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with
Bronze Service Star, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on
Terrorism Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer
Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service
Ribbon, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Ribbon, NATO
Medal, Combat Medical Badge and Army Aviator Badge.
He is survived by his two daughters, Christine and Brylea,
and his father, Donald Rudd.
By Army Staff Sgt. Todd Pouliot
10th Combat Aviation Brigade
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2011
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