Deployed 387th combat truckers receive Army Combat Action Badge

Published June 15, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Patrice Clarke
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Two Airmen with the 387th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron were presented the Army Combat Action Badge during a ceremony at a base in Southwest Asia June 9.

Staff Sgt. Lance Atkinson and Senior Airman Kenny Gonzalez, combat truckers with the 387th ELRS, received the badge for their actions while on a convoy in Iraq as part of the Joint Logistics Task Force 6, 424th Medium Truck Detachment in direct support of Operations New Dawn and Iraqi Freedom.

The 387th ELRS is a detachment of the 387th Air Expeditionary Group, which is a subordinate unit of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia.

In keeping with the spirit of the Warrior Ethos, the Combat Action Badge provides special recognition to Soldiers who personally engage the enemy, or are engaged by the enemy during combat operations. The bayonet and grenade are associated with active combat. The oak wreath symbolizes strength and loyalty.

Army Col. Mark Hart, 230th Sustainment Command Brigade commander, who was present at the awards ceremony, had a few words for the Soldiers and two Airmen who received the Combat Action Badge.

"There are very few Americans who do what you people do on a day-to-day basis," said Colonel Hart. "Receiving the Combat Action Badge says that you are in an elite group of people who have met the enemy and been successful. Whether you were maneuvering your gun truck through a kill zone, attending to a wounded Soldier or communicating under fire, you did something, and are very deserving of this award."

The incident that led to these Airmen's Combat Action Badge was Airman Gonzalez's first convoy to Iraq.

"We had an improvised explosive device detonate on the truck commander side of the truck," said Airman Gonzalez, deployed from Kadena Air Base in Japan and an Orlando, Fla., native. "I was the driver and Sergeant Atkinson was the truck commander."

The convoy continued through the blast and suffered minor damages and no injuries. Despite the dangers, the two combat truckers enjoy their jobs.

"I like it because you get to meet many different people from many different bases," said Sergeant Atkinson, deployed from Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and originally from Detroit, Mich.

This mix of people is the staple of a solid team, which is one of the reasons for Airman Gonzalez's love of his profession.

"We have a solid team; we work really well together," said Airman Gonzalez. "You need that so that you can get the mission done."

Airman Gonzalez also likes the experience and training that the job brings.

"The experience you get from this job is pretty cool," he said. "It's one of those things that not many people get to do every day. All in all, it's a good story to tell. I was deployed here and got to do all these different things."

It's the training and experiences that Lt. Col. Christopher Boone, the 387th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, is the most proud of when it comes to these two combat truckers.

"They performed well," said Colonel Boone. "They performed exactly like we trained and expect them to and they did it exceptionally. I believe that the combat trucker mission is one of the most challenging and dangerous missions we do. A lot of people don't realize that. They think we drive and that's all. These guys are facing these types of threats every single day. It's great to see them recognized for it."

The fact that the recognition came from a sister service was not lost on Colonel Boone.

"This was an Army ceremony, so I think it's pretty special that the Army took the time to recognize our Airmen for a decoration they earned in a combat situation," said Colonel Boone. "Even though the [Army] Combat Action Badge isn't recognized as something they can wear on their uniform it's still pretty special to them as well as what it signifies. It's great to be able to see that they came out the situation unscathed and they are recognized for their efforts."