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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan. 18, 2008 No. 08-008 KANSAS NATIONAL GUARDSMEN WILL RECEIVE HONORS FROM GOVERNOR Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will present military awards to four Kansas National
Guardsmen of the 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation and 714th Maintenance Company
for actions taken while serving in Iraq. As governor, Sebelius is commander-in-chief
of the Kansas National Guard. The presentations will be Tuesday, Jan. 22, at 3:30 p.m. in the governor’s
ceremonial office in the Kansas Statehouse. Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, the
adjutant general, will also be in attendance for the ceremony. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Robert N. Hammon will receive the Distinguished
Flying Cross for his actions during an incident that occurred on June
2, 2007, when the UH-60 Black Hawk he was piloting came under fire from
enemy forces on the ground. The helicopter was hit by several tracer rounds,
which severely damaged the tail rotor. However Hammon was able to pilot
the craft three-quarters of a mile to a safer area and land. Hammon was
awarded the Combat Action Badge in an earlier ceremony. Sgt. 1st Class David Edington and Pfc. Dave Fisher will receive Bronze
Star Medals for actions involving a mortar and rocket attack on the unit’s
base of operations. After sustaining multiple injuries to his left arm
and leg from nearby mortar explosions, Edington risked further injury
and his own safety to assist other wounded soldiers in the platoon with
medical treatment and evacuation from the area. Fisher risked personal
injury during the attack to render medical assistance to four local national
citizens who had received life threatening injuries. Despite the threat
of more incoming mortars, Fisher carried the wounded citizens to bunkers,
continued to provide them medical aide and searched for additional casualties
in the nearby housing area. Both men will also receive the Combat Action Badge. The 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation was deployed to Iraq from Sept. 28,
2006 to Sept. 8, 2007, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 1st Lt. Pete Barrett, 714th Maintenance Company, will be presented with
the Bronze Star Medal for exemplary service during his unit’s deployment
to Iraq. Barrett was cited for his “outstanding dedication to duty
during combat operations in Iraq” which “contributed to the
overwhelming success of the command’s mission.” Barrett was
deployed to Iraq from Sept. 12, 2006 to Aug. 17, 2007. -30- |
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