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Return to First Friday Briefing Upgraded Bronze Stars for Valor Given to Two Air Guardsman;
Being awarded the prestigious Bronze Star is an exclusive honor reserved for military personnel who served with distinction in military operations against an enemy. However, to have America’s third highest honor upgraded from meritorious achievement to valor is quite significant. This is what happened to two Georgia Air National Guardsmen from Brunswick’s 165th Air Support Operations Squadron recently when Staff Sgt. Trevor Kerns and Master Sgt. David Wilburn and was presented an upgraded Bronze Star for valor for individual heroism in Afghanistan during 2002. Brig. Gen. Scott A. Hammond, Commander of the Georgia Air National Guard presented the prestigious awards recently during ceremonies at the forward air control squadron. Both Guardsmen, together with four of their colleagues who saw action in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom were awarded the Bronze Star for Meritorious service earlier in the year by Governor Sonny Perdue during National Guard Day in Georgia. The Bronze Star is awarded to any person who distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service in connection with military operations against an armed enemy; or while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force. The award may be made for acts of heroism or may be awarded for meritorious achievement or meritorious service. Officials from the combat units which the two Guardsmen were attached re-submitted their names for consideration of a Bronze Star for valor. Master Sgt. Wilburn, a Joint Tactical Air Controller was awarded his Bronze Star for heroic action in Afghanistan while assigned to the 20th Special Forces Group. Staff Sgt. Kerns was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division and received his Bronze Star for heroism in Iraq. Both operated with mobile special forces units and controlled close air support activities. Master Sgt. David Wilburn is currently the Standardization and Evaluation NCOIC for 165ASOS and Staff. Sgt. Trevor Kerns is the Training NCO at the Brunswick-based unit. Sixteen Air Guardsmen of the 165th ASOS also received Army Achievement and Army Commendation Medals presented by Brig Gen Hammond. Receiving the Army Achievement was Senior Airman Jose Almeida; Master Sgt. Anthony Browning; Tech. Sgt. A.J. Freshwater; Tech. Sgt. Steven Glover; Lt .Col .Paul Havel; Master Sgt. Chad Ireland; Maj. Timothy King; Tech. Sgt. William Lewis; Senior Airman Eric Mercer; Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Potter; Staff Sgt. Christopher Teal; and SSgt Carl Denuna. Receiving the Army Commendation Medal was Tech Sgt. Ray Pawlik; Senior Airmen Jarret Cox; Tech Sgt. Steve Glover; and Master Sgt. Anthony Browning.
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