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Airman receives Purple Heart after IED blast

  • Published
  • By Capt. David Faggard
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  When most Airmen were celebrating the Air Force's 62nd birthday, Tech. Sgt. Richard Gibbons woke up dazed and scared in an operating room at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital here with doctors and nurses tending to wounds inflicted by the enemy.

Sergeant Gibbons, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Airman, said he owes his life to the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle he was traveling in Sept. 18, 2009 when that vehicle hit an Improvised Explosive Device in the Logar Province.

The soft spoken and humble Colorado Air National Guard noncommissioned officer from Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., was awarded the Purple Heart Medal by Brig. Gen. Steven Kwast, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander Sept. 19, 2009 for the wounds he received.

The wounds aren't serious, according to the seven-year Air Force veteran, but he credits the skilled men and women in the hospital here for his expected 100 percent recovery. He's lauded their efforts and attention to detail with the surgery, the continued physical therapy and tests for Traumatic Brain Injury, to name a few.

"His actions directly saved American and Coalition lives," said Master Sgt. Phil Hartzell 755th Air Expeditionary Group's EOD NCOIC here. "Taking the fight to the enemy on his terms and in the enemy's home," is what Gibbons did. "Almost any man can be sustained in combat, and many are exceptional followers, but this man is an outstanding leader of men in the highly stressful combat environment."

Air Force EOD is vital to operations in Afghanistan, according to Gibbons.

"By securing and clearing the roads and villages of IEDs and UXOs [un-exploded ordnance], other combat units have the freedom of movement to engage the enemy and protect the local community," he said.

From his five months in Afghanistan, Sergeant Gibbons said many of the locals he's been around are happy he's that there but there's an ever-present threat from the enemy.

"It's hard to tell exactly who they [the enemy] are," the Tucson, Ariz. native said, pausing to reflect on the EOD Airmen serving on the frontlines. "But our EOD Airmen, who have been seriously wounded, humble me every day; it's amazing that so many give blood and flesh to the country. My mind wanders back to other servicemembers who are the real heroes - those running and shooting every day; they are the real heroes."

When asked about his most memorable EOD experience, Sergeant Gibbons recalled a special event.

"I was in a bomb suit working an IED," Sergeant Gibbons said. "I heard a horn blast; confused, I looked around and came face to face with an Afghan child. He looked terrified of me. Knowing the grave danger, I had no choice but attempt to further scare the child away. Raising the tools I had in my hands I started jumping up and down and screaming, then the kid was jolted out of a trance and bolted away as fast as he could. Frazzled, I turned back to my work and disarmed the IED. I will forever remember the Afghan child I had to scare the hell out of to protect."

His team had disarmed dozens of IEDs and UXOs and also participated in dozens of patrols that have helped clear more than 950 miles of roads from explosives.

Chief Master Sgt. James McCarty, 755th Air Expeditionary Group superintendent here said Sergeant Gibbons "struck me as very humble man and proud to serve" as he reflected on the Purple Heart ceremony.

The NCO didn't lose his sense of humor after the explosion.

"I was really proactive in trying not to get this medal," Sergeant Gibbons said referring to the Purple Heart. "My job is to actually not get that medal. It's kind of like I failed a little bit."

Editor's Note: Exact details of the explosion were omitted for security concerns.