General Lichte awards Air Medal, 3 Air Force Combat Action Medals, STEP promotion at Pope Published Jan. 3, 2008 By 2nd Lt. Chris Hoyler 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Air Mobility Command Commander General Arthur Lichte presented Pope Airmen with medals and participated in a promotion ceremony during his visit Dec. 18 and 19. Staff Sgt. Jason St. Peter, 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, received the Air Medal with valor, and Tech. Sgt. Dan Sheffer, 2nd Airlift Squadron, Tech. Sgt. Cynthia L. Callaway and Senior Airman Justin A. Hartley, 43rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, received the Air Force Combat Action Medal Dec. 18. Sergeant Calloway received the AFCAM for her actions as Gun Truck NCOIC for a 32-vehicle convoy team that was ambushed just south of Camp Taji, Iraq on Nov. 10, 2004. Several vehicles in her convoy were severely damaged by Rocket Propelled Grenades and Small Arms Fire. As a fire team leader in the lead truck, she returned fire on the enemy to protect the convoy. The firefight continued for several miles as Sergeant Callaway led the convoy out of the kill zone. Airman Hartley received the AFCAM for his actions as a convoy lead vehicle driver on Main Supply Route Tampa in Iraq on July 6, 2007. He was engaged in an enemy attack involving a pressure-plated Improvised Explosive Device. Despite catastrophic damage to his vehicle, Airman Hartley drove the truck out of the kill zone. After traveling another 200 meters, the truck became completely disabled. He retrieved his weapon and ensured his convoy commander was safe and free of injury then escaped to a waiting gun truck escort for evacuation. In addition, General Lichte visited the 43rd Civil Engineering Squadron's firehouse to present a Stripes for Exceptional Performers promotion to Tech. Sgt. Andre Sanders. Members of the fire house fell in formation to hear Gen. Lichte's comments on their unit, and as he wrapped up he turned the floor over the Col. Timothy Zadalis, 43rd Airlift Wing Commander. Colonel Zadalis praised the unit for their work and asked Sergeant Sanders to come to the front to be recognized for his outstanding performance as fire chief. "He stepped up into a Senior Master Sergeant's billet and did an admirable job," Colonel Zadalis said. Colonel Zadalis then said while it would be nice to give Sergeant Sanders a coin, it would be better to promote him, and he did just that, presenting Sergeant Sanders his new stripe to a standing ovation from the squadron. "This is a great Christmas present," Sergeant Sanders said. "I had no idea. I was preparing for the next (promotion) test, and for this to happen from the general is just amazing. I know the chiefs are here, it takes the chiefs to get this done so I appreciate them too. This is just amazing, I'm still beside myself." Sergeant Sanders arrived at Pope in March and less than a month later was in the position of fire chief after the prior chief left to take another position. The job is centered on administrative work, Sergeant Sanders said, and having to deal with that type of workload for 86 people was at times stressful. I was nervous about it, but I didn't let (the troops) know," Sergeant Sanders said with a laugh. "No way. I took it and did the best I could, and it looked like it paid off." In addition to the administrative work, Sergeant Sanders also had to work with the operational side of things and control the emergencies the squadron handled. "The chief is also the face of the fire department," Sergeant Sanders said. "We're the ones who have the voice of all the guys in the fire department." Senior Master Sgt. David Kass, Pope fire chief, thought he would be walking in to a difficult situation when he arrived at Pope to take over. "I was expecting to have a nightmare on my hands, but he did a great job keeping everything together," Sergeant Kass said. "He's been extremely important, he's done a lot of great things for the department."