42nd SFS members receive Combat Action Medal

  • Published
  • By Carl Bergquist
  • Air University Public Affairs
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --  Eight members of the 42nd Security Forces Squadron received the Air Force Combat Action Medal, and two more will soon receive AFCAMs for their involvement in anti-insurgent raids while deployed to Baghdad.

During the period of April to September 2006, the security forces members were assigned to the Green Zone with the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and tasked with the mission of detecting, deterring and defeating criminals and anti-Iraqi insurgents. They raided three villas, recovered numerous weapons and explosives, and captured enemy personnel. The raids also led to the expulsion of three people from Iraq, one who was on the United States Terrorist Watch List, and the detention and interrogation of six Iraqis with ties to insurgent groups. The interrogations yielded invaluable intelligence to coalition forces.

One of the 42nd SFS members, Staff Sgt. Robert Gallant, spoke about the deployment and missions that led to the Combat Action Medal presentations.

"Receiving the AFCAM was a result of us of doing the job and is but a small part of the overall mission," he said. "The raids were part of what we did. You didn't think about the danger at the time, and there is a much bigger picture to our mission in Baghdad."

He sees the AFCAM not as an individual achievement but the result of team work. Sergeant Gallant enjoyed the seven-month deployment because every mission was different. He said he and his team never knew what they would be asked to do until their "boots hit the ground."

"We were the International Zone police but also jacks-of-all-trades, handling perimeter control, raids, training and security involving the Saddam Hussein trial," he said. "The Saddam trial was one of the most interesting parts of the deployment, but due to very high security, only two members of our team actually went to the trial. Training the Iraqi police was also a very rewarding experience."

Sergeant Gallant said he and many of his team members miss being deployed in Baghdad because they feel "the mission was great and the experience was good."
"I would like to go back because this was the best experience I've had during my Air Force career," he said.

The sergeant said another aspect of the mission involved talking to the Iraqi people and getting their perspective on the United States.

"When I spoke to local people, their impression was that everything was alright now because Americans were here to stay," Sergeant Gallant said. "It was part of our job to let them know we weren't an occupation force and would one day be gone. I think change, though, will have to come through the children, as the adults seem too set in their ways."

The sergeant said upon arrival in Iraq, their commander told them to "go in and do it right," and that was what they tried to do. He said they received, "a lot of kudos from the Army chief of staff."

Other 42nd SFS members who received the AFCAM for, "active participation in combat; having been under direct and hostile fire; or physically engaging hostile forces with direct and lethal fire" are:

Staff Sgt. Andrae Drisdom; Staff Sgt. Coliell Washington; Senior Airman Brad Birkbeck; Senior Airman Christopher Danielson; Senior Airman Anthony Hall; Senior Airman Andrew Lack; and Airman 1st Class Dallas Jude.

Tech. Sgt. Scott King and Staff Sgt. Jerry Osborne will soon receive Combat Action Medals for their participation in the Baghdad deployment.