Honor and Pride: Bronze Star Awarded to Nebraska Air National Guard Airmen

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jamie Titus | Master Sgt. Thomas Thompson, the pavement and equipment supervisor with the 155th Civil Engineer Squadron, salutes Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac, the Nebraska adjutant general, after recieving the Bronze Star Medal Sept. 7, 2019, at the Nebraska National Guard air base, Lincoln, Nebraska. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service while deployed to a combat zone. (U.S. Air Force photo taken by Senior Airman Jamie Titus)  

LINCOLN, NE, UNITED STATES

09.07.2019

Story by Senior Airman Jamie Titus 

155th Air Refueling Wing, Nebraska Air National Guard

With rain pouring down, three Airmen with the 155th Civil Engineer Squadron were awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Sep. 7, 2019, at the Nebraska National Guard air base, Lincoln, Nebraska.
The awards were given to Lt. Col. Barry Veen, Maj. Ryan Watson, and Master Sgt. Thomas Thompson for the service they rendered while deployed to Afghanistan from late 2018 until early 2019. The Airmen were presented the awards by Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, director of the Air National Guard, Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac, Nebraska adjutant general, and Col. Robert Hargens, 155th Air Refueling Wing commander, during the Welcome Home ceremony for all those who deployed overseas this past year.
Veen is the commander of the 155th Civil Engineer Squadron, Watson is the deputy base civil engineer and operations branch chief with the 155th CES and Thompson is the Pavements and Equipments Supervisor with the 155th CES.
Each humbled by the honor of being awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the commander of the the 155th CES, Lt. Col. Veen, said they were just doing their job.
“Quite frankly, we just went out there and did the job that we were asked to do,” said Veen. “I think that in totality of all the accomplishments of the Airmen under my command, all the credit goes to them.”
Veen added that the Nebraska civil engineer Airmen faced challenges overseas but in the end it came down to overcoming those challenges and completing the mission.
“Overseas it becomes a challenge because you’re in a foreign country, you can’t just go to a Walmart or a Home Depot or a Lowe’s or whatever and get what you need,” said Veen. “There’s always challenges with the creature comforts of life that we take for granted here in America but those quickly fade once you get on task and mission and know what your job is to do and the people around you.”
Watson said that he was proud of each and every Nebraska Airman who deployed.
“I’m proud of my unit, I’m proud of the squadron who went all downrange with some level of danger and couldn’t be more proud to stand in front of them,” said Watson. “This energy out here, even with the rain and everything, is just incredible.”

• Date Taken: 09.07.2019
• Date Posted: 09.09.2019 18:23
• Story ID: 338897
• Location: LINCOLN, NE, US