EOD members receive medals for answering call of duty Published Feb. 28, 2007 By Senior Airman Travis Edwards Nellis Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- A medal ceremony Feb. 26 at the explosive ordnance disposal flight building equipment bay recognized 11 explosive ordnance disposal Airmen who returned from deployment recently. The names of the Bronze Star Medal recipients are Capt. Brian Castner, Tech. Sgt. Michael Bibb and Staff Sgt. David Fitzpatrick. The names of the Army Commendation Medal recipients are Staff Sgts. Robert Krumlinde, Ian Garcia Wesley Kory, Senior Airmen Anthony Homerlein, David Kuric, John Wawrzynski Jr., Ryan Wiley, Joshua Wilson and Scott White. "I am extremely proud of our EOD Airmen. They risk their lives daily to disarm and destroy IEDs and other weapons planted by those who want to kill Americans and destroy our way of life," said Col. Michael Bartley, 99th Air Base Wing commander. "To the families of these brave men, I say thank you for letting your loved ones perform this highly dangerous job." The Bronze Star Medal was established Feb. 4, 1944. The medal is awarded to individuals who, while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States in a combat theater, distinguish themselves by heroism, outstanding achievement, or by meritorious service while engaged in ground combat against an enemy of the United States. The Army Commendation Medal is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the U.S. who, while serving with or attached to the Army after Dec. 6, 1941, distinguished himself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service. They earned the medals by placing themselves in danger on a constant basis by collectively destroying more than 350,000 pieces of unexploded ordnance, cleared out more than 250 improvised explosive devices and conducted more than 700 combat missions. According to Captain Castner, it has been a difficult year for the extended Air Force EOD family; they all have endured the loss of six EOD brethren.
