SF Airmen earn Bronze Stars

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Laura R. McFarlane
  • 35th Fighter Wing public affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Three Security Forces Airmen were awarded the Bronze Star Medal here on Dec. 18, 2007.

The 35th Fighter Wing commander, Col. Terrence O'Shaughnessy, presented the medals to Maj. Scott Sanford, Master Sgt. Robert Briggs and Tech. Sgt. Max Van Ausdal for duties performed while fighting the Global War on Terrorism.

Major Sanford served as commander, 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, from Feb. 17, 2006 to Aug. 22, 2006. During this time, "his masterful leadership of 112 assigned Airmen resulted in sweeping force protection improvements including procurement of over $1 million in electronic surveillance equipment and the development and execution of United States Central Command Air Force's first multi-installation vulnerability assessment team," his award citation stated.

Major Sanford demonstrated exceptional leadership when he led his team of 19 Security Forces Airmen against a Taliban supported suicide bomber and his accomplice, successfully halting the attack.

"On the day of our mission, the terrorist was planning to kill countless personnel at Bagram and was equipped and trained to do just that," Major Sanford said.

For his efforts in halting the attack, he was recognized with the Bronze Star medal. Major Sanford acknowledges that without his team, he could not have accomplished it.
"Being recognized with a Bronze Star is a definite honor and I'm personally very proud of it," he said. "But I think I was more proud of the team that I worked with that made our mission of capturing the suicide bomber a success. I had the honor of serving with very talented Airmen in Afghanistan and they executed the mission flawlessly. Without them, none of it would have been possible and I'm very grateful for that. The real success story is theirs."

Sergeant Briggs served as flight sergeant, 866th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Iraq, from Nov. 27, 2006 to Aug. 15, 2007. He "displayed uncompromising leadership and courage while leading 147 personnel in support of United States Central Command's largest Theater Internment Facility, housing over 15,000 detainees and supported by over 4,000 coalition forces," his citation stated.

"I think the training prior to deploying and my 20-plus years of experience gave me the confidence as the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Quick Reaction Force, to execute operations without losing a life or someone being seriously injured," he said.

In addition Sergeant Briggs led his forces into 17 hostile situations where the detainees more than doubled his forces.

"My words or the Bronze Star can't express the challenges we endured everyday, Sergeant Briggs said. "You have to have been there to understand the emotional roller coaster we went through. Each response situation was never the same and there was no time to ponder about a course of action. Decisions had to be made at a moments notice."

His citation stated "his leadership was invaluable in molding a team made up of Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers, and Iraqi Correctional Officers providing the only force capable of responding to any contingency situation within the Theater Internment Facility."

"Being selected for the Bronze Star in my opinion would not have been possible without the support of my Air Force and Army leadership, their trust in my abilities, and the Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors that followed my direction" he said.

Sergeant Van Ausdal served as Quick Reaction Force Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, 866th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Iraq, from Nov. 27, 2006 to Aug. 15, 2007. While there, he oversaw more than 10,000 detainees processed through the Theater Internment Facility with no injuries to coalition forces or detainees. His citation stated that he expertly managed more than 100 compound searches, in which his search teams seized more than 500 handmade weapons and 4,500 items of contraband and intelligence.

One particular incident demonstrated Sergeant Van Ausdal's courage and decisive actions. According to his award citation, he single handedly saved a detainee from death at the hands of fellow detainees.

"We responded to a mass riot with over 1,000 detainees," he said. "I quickly established security and cordoned the area with my forces. In that time frame, I noticed a detainee attempting to escape from a mass of 100 angry detainees."

The detainee was climbing the fence, already bleeding with multiple cuts from the weapons, Sergeant Van Ausdal said. He quickly sprung into action to save the detainee.

"I threw several smoke and stinger grenades to provide a buffer between the helpless detainee and the violent detainees," he said. "I climbed to the top of the final denial fence and used the mattress as a cushion to protect myself from the concertina wire. I grabbed the detainee and lifted him over the concertina wire, saving him from impending death."

After getting the detainee out, Sergeant Van Ausdal administered first aid until medical personnel arrived. Fortunately, the riot deescalated without further incident.

While these three Airmen demonstrated behavior and actions worthy of a Bronze Star, in most cases, they would say they were just doing their job.

"You don't deploy with hopes of receiving a medal, but being recognized at this level is truly fulfilling," Sergeant Briggs said. "I can only say I am very proud of to receive the Bronze Star. Years down the road, I can tell my children and grandchildren why I received this award. It is truly an honor to serve my country."