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Pope NCOs receive Bronze Star Medals

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Chris Hoyler
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Four NCOs from the 14th Air Support Operations Squadron were presented Bronze Star Medals July 3 for their actions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. 

Tech. Sgt. Warren Williams and Staff Sgts. George Earhart, Joshua Andrews and James Spreter all received the Bronze Star; Sergeant Andrews received the Bronze Star with Valor. 

All four sergeants served on the front lines of the Global War on Terrorism as either tactical air control party (TACP) NCOICs or joint tactical attack controllers (JTAC) with coalition units. JTACs plan, communicate and facilitate the execution of close-air support for ground forces. TACPs generally serve with Army maneuver units in combat and have a primary mission of terminal control, coordinating and directing combat strike aircraft and other surface fires against enemy targets. 

"No matter what service you are talking about, we all have separate missions, and we're all good at what we do," Col. Patrick Pihana, 18th Air Support Operations Group Commander, said. "But today is about when services come together and complete the mission. 

"This air ground environment is a crubible, and to do this job it takes someone who is quick on their feet and can talk just as easily to an Army commander on the ground as they can to an aircraft commander in the air." 

Sergeant Spreter served in Southern Afghanistan in OEF as a JTAC for the 14th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron from January to September 2007. He led TACP operations in an extremely hostile environment, including one engagement where, as numerous enemy personnel loaded into a vehicle, he cleared a Predator to destroy the vehicle. The attack killed eight insurgents, including a key Taliban leader. 

In a separate operation, Sergeant Spreter and his associated Army company were under heavy small arms fire. Sergeant Spreter used a forward observer to control 36 hours of close air support, resulting in the death of 30 enemy fighters. 

"You just keep rolling on until it's all over," Sergeant Spreter said. "You don't think about not sleeping or anything. 

"The medal is a nice appreciation from those above me, but the biggest appreciation is when those guys you live next to and sleep in a hole with are able to come back home."
Sergeant Andrews served in Iraq as a JTAC with the 25th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron. In the last 36 hours of an operation in support of OIF, Sergeant Andrews' requested and controlled more than 30 combat aircraft in conditions that ranged from close to freezing at night to hot enough to bring on heat exhaustion during the day. 

"When it's all over you just try to take it all in," Sergeant Andrews said. 

At one point during the operation, a grenade detonated near the command group, wounding Sergeant Andrews in the leg. While still engaging the enemy and facing their fire, he personally helped to carry the wounded to the evacuation aircraft and returned to continue his control over the fixed and rotary wing aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles as they checked on station. His role in the operation led to the loss of 74 enemy lives, 23 enemies captured and five large weapons caches discovered. 

"The training we get is what we can use as a platform so that when you are in a situation like that, you can think on your feet," Sergeant Andrews said. 

Sergeant Williams also served in Iraq as part of the 25th EASOS as the TACP NCOIC, leading a team of 12 Airmen that dispersed throughout the region to execute more than 350 Army battalion and brigade named offensive operations. 

In execution of the first-ever overnight stay of U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney in Multi-National Division-North, Sergeant Williams planned and executed the installation security plan as the chief close air support planner. Despite rotary-wing assets being grounded due to inclement weather, he requested and controlled more than 14 hours of aerial support, which allowed for complete aerospace combat projection availability during Vice President Cheney's stay. 

"This is a great reward for the work we do, but you're thinking about those that didn't make it back, their families, as well as the wounded and of course, your own family," Williams said. 

Sergeant Earhart served as a JTAC in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from March to November 2007. During this time, Sergeant Earhart served as the JTAC for Operational Detachment Alpha 712, Operations Task Force-71, planning all aspects of fixed and rotary wing support. He was the machine gunner on more than 40 mounted and dismounted operations. 

In addition, Sergeant Earhart provided cross training to detachment members on controlling close air support. 

"It is a big deal if you are the lone Air Force guy with an Army detachment and they nominate you for the Bronze Star," Sergeant Earhart said. "It's an overwhelming and rewarding feeling." 

From July 2006 to May 2008, the 14th ASOS has more than 23,000 man-days deployed. In that time their recognition includes one purple heart, 17 Bronze Stars (one with valor), one Meritorious Service Medal, 24 Air Force Commendation Medal, 53 Army Commendation Medals (two with valor), 11 Air Force Achievement Medals (two with valor).