Kunsan Airman awarded Bronze Star Medal

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Patrice Clarke
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Amid standing room only, members of the Wolf Pack watched as Tech Sgt. Michael Brady, 8th Logistics Readiness Squadron, received a Bronze Star Medal May 29 for his actions while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Maj. Kathy Travis, 8th LRS commander, took to the stage to tell everyone why Sergeant Brady was so deserving.

"Sergeant Brady is receiving this Bronze Star for his time in Iraq as a convoy commander," she said. "He was deployed for more than 200 days in Iraq and while he was there, he moved more than 13,000 short tons of cargo on the world's most dangerous roads, sometimes taking fire.

"Convoy commanders have to be able to adapt quickly and take complete control of any situation thrown at them," said Major Travis. "They are on those roads anywhere from three days to two weeks at a time getting people and supplies where they need to be. It's a very courageous thing to go out there and get the mission done no matter what."

To Sergeant Brady, who was responsible for people, vehicles and supplies, it was all just another day ... all part of his job.

"There was never a typical day," said Sergeant Brady. "The days would vary, day one was always safety brief and upload day and that could take anywhere from eight to twenty-four hours depending on the cargo and amount of vehicles we were using. We would get a good night's rest and then another safety brief and back on the road. We would reach our destination and then do it all again on the return trip."

Sergeant Brady's duties did not stop at commanding convoys; training his Army counterparts was also high on the list. While deployed, Sergeant Brady certified 60 Soldiers on convoy procedures which produced no loss of life through his entire deployment as convoy commander.

"I wouldn't have been able to do any of this if it wasn't for the great team I had out there with me," said Sergeant Brady. "It means a lot [to be awarded the Bronze Star] I feel good not just for me but for the people who worked with me. I mean without them I wouldn't have gotten this."

Audience members also felt the impact of the occasion.

"I've been asked numerous times, 'Why do you stay in the Air Force?'" said Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Riff, 8th Fighter Wing command chief. "My answer is always the same ... I stay for the love of the Air Force and Warrior Airman like Sergeant Michael Brady who make a huge difference in the world every day! The strength of our Air Force is not our weapon systems; it's Airmen like Sergeant Brady performing diverse missions every day and making sure the job gets done."