CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
In front of their families, friends and several hundred military members, seven members of Team Charleston were presented Bronze Stars here Monday by Gen. Duncan McNabb, commander of Air Mobility Command, during a commander's call at the Charleston Club.
General McNabb said these individuals embody the heart of the nation.
Those awarded Bronze Stars were:
Capt. John Clagnaz, 1st Combat Camera Squadron officer in charge of the Combat Operations Flight, was awarded the Bronze Star for his performance as OIC of the joint combat camera operations, Multi-National Corps, Baghdad, Iraq, from May 7. 2006 to Sept. 10, 2006.
Captain Clagnaz provided leadership to 74 Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen at 17 forwarding-operating bases across Iraq in accomplishing documentation of 935 coalition missions, including coverage of the aftermath of the termination of Al-Qaeda terrorist leader Abu Musab al Zarqawi, for 5th Corps Artillery, 4th Infantry Division, 10th Mountain Division, 101st Airborne Division and Marine Expeditionary Forces.
Senior Master Sgt. Lex Gibson, 437th Security Forces Squadron operations superintendent, was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions as the 886th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Security Forces Manager and Operations Battle NCO assigned to the 785th Military Police Battalion, Camp Bucca, Iraq, from Oct. 4, 2005 to March 25, 2006.
Sergeant Gibson co-authored the theater internment facility voting plan for the Iraqi Parliamentary Elections. He compiled lessons learned, prepared a comprehensive contingency plan and aided in the placement of voting stations. Sergeant Gibson's plan was so effective that more than 5,800 detainees were allowed to vote during the elections, paving the way to a free and democratic Iraq.
Master Sergeant Christopher Nolan, 1st CTCS NCO in charge of a videographer flight, was awarded the Bronze Star for his performance as NCO in charge of combat camera support for three divisions through the Multi-National Corps Iraqi Theater from May 18, 2006, to Sept. 18 2006.
Sergeant Nolan led a combat camera team on a successful raid in the town of Al-Bayaa, Iraq, capturing the leader of an assassination cell and found cases of anti-Coalition paperwork and Al-Qaeda publications. This footage was used in a commercial to show the Iraqi people how the Iraqi National Police are leading raids.
Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Lock, 1 CTCS combat aerial still photographer, was awarded the Bronze Star for his performance as a joint combat camera photojournalist assigned to the Multi-National Corps-Iraq, Joint Combat Camera Team at Forward Operating Base Marez, Mosul, Multi-National Division North, Iraq, from May 18, 2006 to Sept. 18, 2006.
In charge of a two-person team attached to the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat team, Sergeant Lock participated in more than 92 missions occurring "outside the wire" resulting in more than 2,350 still images.
Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Wagner, 437 SFS Squadron NCO in charge of Combat Arms training section, was awarded the Bronze Star for his performance as the NCO in charge of the Base Defense Unit Advisory Support Team and Coalition Military Assistance Training Team from August 3, 2005 to August 3, 2006.
Sergeant Wagner's technical and tactical skills assisted in the timely deployment of Coalition blocking forces at critical areas during a coordinated attack by enemy forces attacking multiple areas of the perimeter. His calmness under fire aided the base in quickly developing a coordinated defense thereby denying the enemy the opportunity to breach the perimeter.
Staff Sgt. James Harper, 1 CTCS combat aerial still photographer, was awarded the Bronze Star for his performance as a combat aerial photographer, Joint Combat Camera Management Team, Multi-National Corps Iraq, Baghdad from Sept. to Jan. 5, 2006.
Sergeant Harper was the team leader of a three man team that captured more than 3,219 photos and 37 minutes of video from more than 27 combat missions. His imagery was used in print media websites and broadcast media throughout the world as proof of a larger voter participation and excellent security participation provided by Iraqi Security Forces.
Staff Sgt. Richard Rose, 1 CTCS combat aerial still photographer, was awarded the Bronze Star for his performance as a Joint Combat Camera photographer, Multi-national Division Baghdad from May 18, 2006 to Sept. 18, 2006.
Sergeant Rose contributed more than 1,000 images transmitted to the Joint Combat Camera Imagery Management team in Baghdad where they were disseminated throughout the command and the Department of Defense.
Each recipient said they felt tremendously honored to receive such an award.
The Bronze Star is awarded to any person serving in any capacity with the military of the United States who distinguishes themselves by heroic or meritorious achievement or service for engaging in actions against an enemy of the United States.