Airman earns bronze star in Iraq

  • Published
  • By Capts. Genieve David and Christopher Moore
  • 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  An Airman from Hill AFB temporarily assigned to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing's 424th Medium Truck Detachment, was recently awarded the Bronze Star Medal for work leading convoys through some of the most dangerous highways in the world.

Tech. Sgt. Brandon Hobeck, permanently assigned to the 75th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Hill, served as a convoy commander. He personally conducted 20 missions and his teams amassed more than 769,000 cumulative miles while spending more than 150 days on the road. 

While serving as convoy commander, Sergeant Hobeck's convoy was struck by four mortars just north of Forward Operating Base Scania. He took immediate action, and ensured all members of his convoy team were okay. Upon entering the FOB he ensured all affected Airmen received immediate medical treatment.

"We are extremely proud of Sergeant Hobeck's dedication to his country," said Master Sgt. Christopher Sayre, 75th Logisitics Readiness Squadron first sergeant. "His quick actions proved essential to keeping the mission on task and essentially getting fellow servicemembers quick medical attention."

Additionally, Sergeant Hobeck trained more than 220 Airmen and Soldiers from the Joint Logistics Task Force 1,144 on convoy duties and responsibilities at the Udari Range.

The detachment's 164 Airmen, from eight different specialties and 37 bases, completed more than 165 missions, driving almost 5 million miles with 67,500 tons of cargo from mid-April to mid-October. Collectively, the group spent almost 13,000 days in Iraq.

The additional nine Airmen who received the bronze star were:

Capt. Robert Sonnenberg, from Eglin AFB, Fla., Second Lt. Kyle Yates, from Maxwell AFB, Ala., Chief Master Sgt. Richard Bunce, from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, U.K., Master Sgt. Louis Pate, from Pope AFB, N.C., Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Sudlow, from F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., Tech. Sgt. Brian Fitzsimmons, from McChord AFB, Wash., Tech. Sgt. Shawn Foust, Ellsworth AFB, S.D., Tech. Sgt. Frederick Garcia, from Vandenberg AFB, Calif, Tech. Sgt. Reagan Ross, from Moody AFB, Ga.

"Everyone in the 424th Medium Truck Detachment performed amazingly during their deployment and I'm especially proud of the accomplishments of our Bronze Star recipients," said Lt. Col. Kevin Sampels, 586th Expeditionary Logistics Squadron commander. "Their actions in leading numerous convoy missions throughout Iraq are truly heroic and I couldn't be more proud of them and the entire squadron."

The Bronze Star Medal is the fourth-highest combat award of the U.S. Armed Forces and the ninth highest military award.