Grissom Airmen awarded medals

Published Sept. 18, 2015
By Senior Airman Katrina Heikkinen
434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- For their meritorious service in the Air Force, 72 Grissom Airmen were recently awarded medals.

Meritorious Service Medal

Sixteen 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:

-Maj. Amy Johannsen, 434th Maintenance Group
-Maj. James Benvenuto, 434th Security Forces Squadron
-Capt. Erik Anderson, 434th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
-Chief Master Sgt. Louise Dietzer-Hensley, 434th Aerospace Medicine Squadron
-Chief Master Sgt. Robert Herman, 434th Air Refueling Wing
-Chief Master Sgt. Tony Hoffman, 434th MXG
-Chief Master Sgt. Rickie King, 434th SFS
-Chief Master Sgt. Karen Perkins, 434th ARW
-Senior Master Sgt. Steven Burton, 434th Civil Engineer Squadron
-Senior Master Sgt. Bradley Marcum, 434th AMDS
-Master Sgt. Nicholas Christos, 434th AMDS
-Master Sgt. Philip Deckard, 434th CES
-Master Sgt. Tonya Gonzales, 434th SFS
-Master Sgt. James Nichols, 434th CES
-Master Sgt. James Hoagland, 434th ARW
-Master Sgt. Adam Soultz, 434th SFS

Air Medal

Six aircrew members were presented with Air Medals. The Air Medal was established by May 11, 1942 and is awarded to U.S. military and civilian personnel for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievements while participating in aerial flight and foreign military personnel in actual combat in support of operations. Below are those who received Air Medals:

-Lt. Col. Richard Day, 74th Air Refueling Squadron
-Maj. Brian Thompson, 74th ARS
-Capt. Jacob Creel, 72nd Air Refueling Squadron
-Capt. Johnathon McCashland, 72nd ARS
-1st Lt. Timothy Robertson, 74th ARS
-1st Lt. Jeffrey Vincent, 74th ARS

Aerial Achievement Medal

Two officers and one NCO were awarded the Aerial Achievement Medal, which is awarded by the Department of the Air Force to U.S. military and civilian personnel for sustained meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. The following received the Aerial Achievement Medal:

-Lt. Col. Shelby Basler, 74th ARS
-Capt. Timothy McBee, 74th ARS
-Staff Sgt. Scott Floyd, 434th CES

Air Force Commendation Medal

Three officers and 22 Airmen received Air Force Commendation Medals. 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:

-Capt. Kathryn Dahlen, 434th AMDS
-Capt. Madalyn Davidson, 434th AMDS
-2nd Lt. Martin Valadez, 434th ARW
-Senior Master Sgt. Nathan Colborn, 434th CES
-Senior Master Sgt. Adam Loos, 434th CES
-Master Sgt. Nicholas Christos, 434th AMDS
-Master Sgt. Philip Deckard, 434th CES
-Master Sgt. Robert Dill, 434th CES
-Master Sgt. Kent Hinshaw, 434th CES
-Master Sgt. John Rapp, 434th SFS
-Tech. Sgt. Marion Calma, 434th SFS
-Tech. Sgt. Michael Cochran, 434th SFS
-Tech. Sgt. Brian Haase, 434th SFS
-Tech. Sgt. Mark Magajne, 49th Aerial Port Flight
-Tech. Sgt. Danielle Mann, 434th SFS
-Tech. Sgt. Brian McMillen, 49th APF
-Tech. Sgt. Gregory Moolenaar, 434th SFS
-Tech. Sgt. Michael Rush, 434th SFS
-Tech. Sgt. Bradley Snow, 434th SFS
-Staff Sgt. Justin Coe, 434th SFS
-Staff Sgt. Julie Hazelett, 434th SFS
-Staff Sgt. Torey Lyons, 434th SFS
-Staff Sgt. Troy Mace, 434th SFS
-Staff Sgt. Nathan Micks, 434th Communications Squadron
-Staff Sgt. Gabriel Wood, 434th CES

Air Force Achievement Medal

Twenty-two 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:

-Maj. Matthew Basler, 72nd ARS
-Master Sgt. Krystle Lucas, 434th CES
-Tech. Sgt. Ronald Maxwell, 434th CES
-Staff Sgt. Elias Alanis, 434th CES
-Staff Sgt. Alex Barone, 434th CES
-Staff Sgt. Dustin Fullerton, 434th CES
-Staff Sgt. Eric Griffin, 434th CES
-Staff Sgt. Malcolm Mitchell, 434th CES
-Staff Sgt. Timothy Morse, 434th CES
-Staff Sgt. Timothy Poremba, 434th CES
-Senior Airman Terros Dilworth, 434th AMDS
-Senior Airman Daniel Garcia, 434th SFS
-Senior Airman Samantha Keeslar, 434th AMDS
-Senior Airman Maurice Kendall, 434th SFS
-Senior Airman Manuel Paredes, 434th SFS
-Senior Airman Kayla Rivera, 434th AMDS
-Senior Airman Eric Rosson, 434th SFS
-Senior Airman Erica Sherwood, 434th Force Support Squadron
-Senior Airman Caroline Taylor, 434th LRS
-Senior Airman Marshall Vondy, 434th LRS
-Senior Airman Brittany Wildman, 434th AMDS
-Senior Airman Todd Williams, 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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Grissom Airmen awarded medals

Public Affairs Staff