Luke Airman receives Bronze Star

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Darlene Seltmann
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  A 56th Logistics Readiness Squadron Airman received the Bronze Star from Lt. Col. Michael Davis, 56th LRS commander during a squadron commander's call Feb. 16 here at Luke Air Force Base.

Tech. Sgt. Miranda May, 56th LRS NCO-in-charge of operator records and licensing, was presented the medal for her actions as convoy commander throughout Iraq. She led her team of 26 Army and Air Force personnel and 30 Iraqis, through two separate attacks, clearing the areas with no loss of life.

The first attack was small-arms fire and a rocket-propelled grenade attack south of Joint Base Balad. May quickly instructed all vehicles to push out of the hostile area, then immediately took accountability of all personnel and executed a battle damage assessment of all resources. There were no injuries, and the mission was able to continue.

The second attack was a double improvised explosive device detonation on the assistant convey commander's vehicle in the vicinity of Victory Base Complex. After leaving the hostile area and finding a safe area, an assessment of all personnel and equipment were conducted. Personnel were shaken but the mission was able to continue.

"It's hard to explain how I felt when the attacks happened," May said. "Time seemed to stop, and the only thing that mattered was getting everyone to safety."

May was put in for the medal by her leadership from the 70th Medium Truck Detachment, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, in direct support of Operations New Dawn.

"The job of a vehicle operator is to support the warfighter through the movement of passengers and cargo," said Senior Master Sgt. David Belcher, 56th LRS Deployment Distribution Flight superintendent. "However, most have been conducting convoy operations year-round in Iraq since 2004."

May follows a long line of successful combat truckers at Luke Air Force Base. Having learned from four other Bronze Star recipients as well as from those she encountered while deployed, she took her prior convoy experience and applied that knowledge to her
deployed situation on the ground.

"May is unselfish and understands the importance of the team concept," Belcher said. "Although she was awarded this medal for her actions, I know she shares it with her convoy teams because without them, those missions would have failed."

May attributes the success of the mission to her team.

"I am truly honored and blessed to have served with such a great team," May said. "On both incidents our training kicked in, and everyone knew what they had to do. All team members executed their duties with precision, further enabling us to accomplish our nation's objective while coming home to our loved ones in one piece."