3rd CR trooper receives top medical award

Photo By Staff Sgt. Erik Warren | First Sgt. Tyrone Bennett, Medical Troop, Regimental Support Squadron “Muleskinner,” 3rd Cavalry Regiment, thanks his Soldiers and command for the hard work put in that allowed him to receive the Order of Military Medical Merit during an award ceremony Monday at Fort Hood, Texas. (U.S. Army photo taken by Spc. Eric Warren, 3d Cavalry Regiment Public Affairs)  

FORT HOOD, OR, UNITED STATES

08.17.2015

Story by Maj. Vance Trenkel 

3d Cavalry Regiment Public Affairs Office

FORT HOOD, Texas– First Sgt. Tyrone Bennett of Medical Troop, Regimental Support Squadron “Muleskinner,” 3rd Cavalry Regiment was awarded the Order of Military Medical Merit here Monday. The O2M3 is a national level award given to recognize excellence by the senior leaders of the U.S. Army Medical Department.

Col James Geracci, III Corps surgeon, presented the award to Bennett. Geracci, an O2M3 award winner, wore his own medallion as he donned the new awardee. “It’s extremely rare to award this to an NCO in the medical corps,” said Geracci. “Bennett is in the top one to two percent of his peers.”

Bennett received the award in front of the entire Muleskinner Squadron formation. Col. Kevin Admiral and Command Sgt. Maj. Roger Heinze, the 3d CR command team, were also present at the ceremony.

Bennett’s wife, Tamara, was unable to attend due to medical care, but her sister, Lakisha Bates, streamed the ceremony on her smart phone so Tamara could watch the entire thing in real time.

“My Soldiers made it happen for me,” Bennett said, referencing how this was the third time he had been submitted for the award.

Bennett was recognized for his time training Soldiers with AMEDD specifically, as well as setting up and taking down the Level II hospital on Forward Operating Base Shank last year in Afghanistan. Bennett has 22 years in the Army and said he wants to retire in a couple years to the Fort Worth area to begin teaching science and coaching baseball.

“While this is a personal award, this helps the entire unit,” said Lt. Col. Robin Montgomery, Bennett’s squadron commander. “With 1st Sgt. Bennett’s contributions to the squadron, this will show the next generation of leaders what success looks like.”

• Date Taken: 08.17.2015
• Date Posted: 08.18.2015 10:31
• Story ID: 173456
• Location: FORT HOOD, OR, US