AF medics receive Bronze Stars for actions in OIF, OEF   

NOTE: The Bronze Star is awarded to U.S. service members who distinguish themselves by heroic, meritorious achievement or service, not involving aerial flight participation, while engaging in military operations against any armed adversary.  It’s the nation’s fourth highest combat decoration.

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Six 16th Medical Group Airmen received Bronze Star Medals from the U.S. Army for saving lives as far-forward surgical teams deep in Iraq.

Lt. Col. (Dr.) Thomas Dye, Maj. Kathryn Weiss, Maj. Donald Sandercock II, Capt. Keane Hung, Capt. Erwin Gines and Capt. David White were the recipients.

Dye was deployed separately from the other award recipients to western Iraq as chief of a Mobile Field Surgical Team attached to coalition forces during early combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

According to his citation, he provided life-saving capabilities from bare-base conditions in hostile territory.

“The team I was with performed beyond my expectations,” said Dye, an orthopedic surgeon. “I wish they could be with me here today to accept this award. Everything they set out to do went flawlessly.”

During one incident, a critically wounded soldier received immediate care from the surgical team and was transported to a follow-on surgical facility within two hours of the incident.  Dye recently received word that the soldier is on his way to a full recovery. 

The other recipients accompanied the Army’s 10th Special Forces Group to northern Iraq where they treated everything from dislocated shoulders to bullet wounds, carrying their surgical equipment and supplies on their backs.

WRIGHT PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Two Team Wright-Patt doctors were awarded Bronze Star Medals for their efforts supporting Operation Enduring Freedom at two different locations.

Dr. (Col.) Gregory J. Toussaint, the chief of medical staff for the 74th Medical Group, was cited for service as the 444th Expeditionary Medical Squadron commander while engaged in ground operations against the enemy at a classified location.

According to the citation, while exposed to extreme danger from potential theater ballistic missile and terrorist attacks, “he was directly responsible for combat enabling operations supporting the largest employment of special operations forces since the Vietnam War.”

On numerous occasions, the citation said, “he diagnosed patients with deteriorating conditions that required a level of medical care only available outside the theater of operation and he then arranged medical air evacuation, identified medical teams and personally helped configure aircraft to support patients.”

Dr. (Col.) Thomas M. Koroscil, chief of endocrinology at the 74th MDG, was cited for service as the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group commander in the Kyrgyz Republic while engaged in ground operations in OEF.

Under his leadership, the citation said, the medical group cared for more than 3,000 patients, evacuated 43 patients, treated more than 400 dental patients, immunized more than 900 people for smallpox, while monitoring more than $250,000 in food monthly and directing 685 water samples.

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Four Keesler AFB medics received Bronze Star Medals for their actions in OEF and OIF.

Lt. Col. (Dr.) Harold Webb, 81^st Surgical Operations Squadron; Lt. Col. Judith Schaffer, 81^st Medical Support Squadron; Maj. (Dr.) Michael Forgione, 81^st Medical Operations Squadron and Col. (Dr.) Thomas W. Beckman, 81^st Dental Squadron, were presented the Bronze Star Medal for actions in OEF and OIF.

Webb was recognized by the U.S. Army for exceptionally meritorious service in OIF as the MFST surgeon for Forward Operational Base 102,  “a position of great responsibility in hostile enemy terrain.”

He was cited for establishing the first surgically capable medical unit for the western front of Joint Special Operations Task Force-North in support of Special Forces units in contact with the enemy.  His surgical skills and guidance resulted in the effective management of injured U.S. Special Operations soldiers, coalition soldiers, journalists and enemy prisoners of war,” his citation stated.

Forgione earned the Bronze Star for his actions while assigned as chief of infectious diseases with the 379^th Expeditionary Medical Group.

His citation stated that Forgione demonstrated exceptional leadership by optimizing the Infections Disease Module and establishing a seven-bed isolation unit with medical equipment worth $250,000, “which was pivotal to the functioning of the expeditionary medical support hospital for OEF and OIF.

“Under his direction, more than 15,000 vaccinations were provided, including 3,000 for smallpox, in only four weeks, which rocketed the wing’s compliance from worst to first in the area of responsibility.  He set the standard for theater response to the worldwide severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak with short-notice briefings to wing and group commanders. 

“He organized and presented a nuclear-biological-chemical threat course for all coalition medics and ensured mission capability by clinically augmenting primary care, internal medicine and critical care units.”

Schaffer earned the Bronze Star for her duty as chief nurse for the 379^th Expeditionary Medical Group.  She established a 36-bed expeditionary medical support hospital with a 206-member staff from 12 bases as a combat-ready trauma facility in direct support of OEF and OIF.

Among the achievements noted, “she built, supplied and manned five inpatient units and three clinics and directly supervised 44 percent of the personnel.  She skillfully incorporated 81 officers and medics into the existing 10-man nursing service by creating a multi-layered staffing system to cover extreme ranges of routine operations to the management of 90 casualties.” 

Beckman received the award for “distinguishing himself by meritorious service” as chief of oral and maxillofacial surgery with the 320th Expeditionary Medical Group, while engaged in ground operations against the enemy in support of OEF.

According to his citation, Beckman performed over 59 operations at multiple locations within the theater of operations. 

His skills were demonstrated during a 17-patient combat-related mass casualty where he performed as the key triage officer as well as personally operated on five of those wounded patients, two of which were critically injured. 

During this 48-hour period Beckman was a key element in the surgical team that performed 12 operations in 12 hours, with a total of 23 procedures during a continuous 36 hours, “remarkably without morbidity.”

The citation continued, “Colonel Beckman rose above and beyond all responsibilities by bringing his surgical expertise to a Special Forces forward operating base and returned the fighting force on the front lines quickly to duty without the need for evacuation. 

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Lt. Col. (Dr.) Kenneth Olivier, staff pulmonary intensivist, was awarded the Bronze Star for his deployment during which he was the officer-in-charge of aeromedical operations and deployed Critical Care Air Transport Teams for the 438th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron in OEF.

“There were many medical personnel deserving of recognition,” said Olivier. “It was a real team effort.”

While supporting several missions throughout the OIE region, Olivier provided for the aeromedical evacuation of more than 70 patients.

Despite less-than-optimal conditions and substandard equipment, Olivier said he is proud of the medical care provided to wounded soldiers.

“Medical personnel performed their duties as if they were back in their stateside environment, despite the impediments of sand, dust, wind and extremes of cold and heat.  I was proud to serve,” said Olivier.