Airman presented Purple Heart for military merit

Courtesy Photo | CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait -- Staff Sgt. Michael Stewart, a truck commander with the 70th Medium Truck Detachment, is thanked by members of his detachment following his Purple Heart ceremony Aug. 2. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Hansen)  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

08.04.2006

Courtesy Story

386th Air Expeditionary Wing

by Staff Sgt. Ryan Hansen
386th AEW/PA

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – With cargo and supplies tied down and ready to be moved on another trip into Iraq, Airmen of the 70th Medium Truck Detachment took a moment from their mission to line up in formation Aug. 2, to honor one of their own.

They formed up to see Staff Sgt. Michael Stewart, a truck commander with the 70th MTD, honored for his military merit. Sergeant Stewart, who is deployed from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., was presented a Purple Heart for his actions during an improvised explosive device attack on his vehicle July 21.

On this particular night Sergeant Stewart and his wheel man, Airman 1st Class Joshua Collins, were on the job cruising down the highway in the lead truck on a convoy mission about five miles north of Balad Air Base, Iraq.

This night was starting out the way most 'normal' nights do in the AOR for members of the 70th MTD. They, along with the 424th MTD, belong to the 586th Expeditionary Mission Support Group. These two Air Force detachments conduct medium truck convoys for the Army on a daily basis, transporting equipment into the Iraqi theater of operations.

However, as the two transporters led the convoy north towards Mosul, Sergeant Stewart spotted a possible IED in the center of the road. It was at that moment the night became anything but 'normal' for members of the 70th MTD, when in the blink of an eye an IED exploded.

"I was just reaching over to (call it in) when it hit," Sergeant Stewart said. "My initial thought was that we were going to be able to make it past it with without it going off and we'd be able to get the rest of the convoy stopped, but everything happened so quickly."

As the smoke cleared from the blast Sergeant Stewart quickly gathered his thoughts. He yelled at Airman Collins, who is known as "Cowboy" to his friends, to see if he was injured.

"Cowboy just kept saying, ouch, ouch, ouch," Sergeant Stewart said.

Sergeant Stewart, not realizing he was hurt as well, moved over to check on Airman Collins and was met by the convoy commander, Technical Sergeant Esteban Ochoa and Airman First Class Clyde Rankins. Airman Collins had taken quite a hit in the leg and the team had to work quickly to stabilize him by performing combat life support.

"Everyone did their job," Sergeant Ochoa said. "I've never been more proud in my Air Force career than how everyone reacted that day."

With Airman Collins being transported from the scene by helicopter to the Air Force Theater Hospital at Balad, the 70th MTD worked to get their convoy out of harms way. They quickly got the situation under control and then worked their way towards Balad as well. There they could find out how their comrade was doing, get Sergeant Stewart checked out and make the necessary repairs to get the convoy back on the road.

Luckily for Sergeant Stewart, his injuries were not as bad as his friend's, Airman Collins.

"The IED came right through the bottom and clipped my ear," he said. "But I told them I didn't need any more holes in my head, so they just put some strips on there and sent me away."

Now, just a few short weeks after the incident with the battle damaged truck sitting on a flatbed trailer over his left shoulder, Col. Paul Curlett talked to the Airmen in formation about the history of the decoration and how proud he was to present the medal to Sergeant Stewart.

"We're here today to honor Sergeant Stewart for his bravery," said the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing commander. "Just take a look at this truck. This is what you all face on a daily basis and you truly deserve our thanks and praise."

After Colonel Curlett presented Sergeant Stewart with the Purple Heart, all of his comrades from the 70th and 424th MTD lined up to give him a hug and shake his hand.

"This is what these guys face everyday on the road," said 1st Lt. Joe Barber, 70th MTD commander. "They never know what they'll encounter. It's a dangerous business."

"Sergeant Stewart is the epitome of an Air Force staff sergeant and he really represents what these transporters are all about," said Chief Master Sergant Tony Killion, 70th MTD chief. "They love doing this and can't wait to get back out there."

Looking back at the event, Sergeant Stewart said he was thankful for the training they were given and said he was proud of all the Airmen in his detachment.

"I really have to thank Airman Rankins for reacting as quickly as he did," he said. "I was too shook up to get the IV in and he really came in and took control. But we have a really tight team here and I love working with all of them."

• Date Taken: 08.04.2006
• Date Posted: 08.04.2006 09:44
• Story ID: 7392
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW