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Thirty-six Grissom Airmen awarded medals

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Benjamin Mota
  • 434th ARW Public Affairs
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. --  For their meritorious service in the Air Force, 36 Grissom Airmen were recently awarded medals.

Meritorious Service Medal

Eight 434th Air Refueling Wing Airmen were recently presented with Meritorious Service Medals. President Lyndon Johnson established the MSM by Executive Order 11448 on Jan. 16, 1969, as the counterpart of the Bronze Star Medal for the recognition of meritorious noncombatant service. Those who received MSMs are listed below:

- Lt. Col. Christopher Filer, 434th Aerospace Medicine Squadron
- Lt. Col. Kenneth Hatcher, 74th Air Refueling Squadron
- Maj. John Hawkins, 434th ARW
- Chief Master Sgt. Karen Perkins, 434th ARW
- Senior Master Sgt. Ruth Love, 434th ARW
- Tech. Sgt. Brian Evers, 434th Logistics Readiness Squadron
- Tech. Sgt. Sean Mahoney, 434th ARW
- Staff Sgt. Dana Bondurant, 434th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

Air Force Commendation Medal

Eleven Grissom NCOs and senior NCOs were awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal. This medal was authorized by the Secretary of the Air Force on March 28, 1958, for award to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement and service. Below are those who received commendation medals:

- Chief Master Sgt. Sandra Dye, 434th AMS
- Master Sgt. Michael Holmes, 434th Communications Squadron
- Master Sgt. Damon Silvey, 434th Operations Support Squadron
- Master Sgt. Charles Stettler, 434th Maintenance Squadron
- Tech. Sgt. Jenneva Barrett, 434th LRS
- Tech. Sgt. Timothy Boggs, 434th Security Forces Squadron
- Tech. Sgt. Joseph Madjecki, 434th MXS
- Tech. Sgt. Daniel Tomasiewicz, 434th AMXS
- Tech. Sgt. John Vanrees, 434th AMXS
- Staff Sgt. Joshua Minnick, 434th Operations Support Squadron
- Staff Sgt. Craig Ward, 434th AMXS

Air Force Achievement Medal

Seventeen Grissom Airmen were awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal. This medal was authorized by the Secretary of the Air Force on Oct. 20, 1980, and is awarded to Air Force personnel for outstanding achievement or meritorious service rendered specifically on behalf of the Air Force. Below are those who received achievement medals:

- Master Sgt. Rebekah Hewes, 434th AMXS
- Tech. Sgt. Aubrey Able, 434th AMXS
- Tech. Sgt. Russell Smith, 434th AMXS
- Staff Sgt. Patrick Barringer, 434th SFS
- Staff Sgt. Ryan Covert, 434th CS
- Staff Sgt. Travis Helton, 434th AMXS
- Staff Sgt. Erich Maul, 434th AMXS
- Senior Airman David Culhane, 434th CES
- Senior Airman Cory Mason, 434th ARW
- Senior Airman Michael Meoak, 434th AMXS
- Senior Airman Brandon Mravec, 434th CES
- Senior Airman Derek Parrelly, 434th AMXS
- Senior Airman Kenneth Pinaire, 434th CES
- Senior Airman Brandon Roberts, 434th CES
- Senior Airman Danielle White, 434th AMXS
- Senior Airman Cameron Yoder, 434th CES
- Senior Airman Zacheriah Merkle, 434th CES

The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. 434th ARW Airmen and aircraft routinely deploy in support of the Air Force mission and U.S. strategic objectives.

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Public Affairs Staff

Material contained on the Official Grissom Air Reserve Base Internet Web Site is written and produced by members of the 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office. The award-winning staff includes:

Ben Mota
Chief, public affairs

Maj. Elias Zani
Public affairs officer

Master Sgt. Wendy Day
Staff writer

Tech. Sgt. Alexa Culbert
Staff writer

Senior Airman Elise Faurote
Staff writer

Senior Airman Benjamin Cowles
Staff writer