LRS Airman receives bronze star

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tong Duong
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  A 56th Logistics Readiness Squadron Airman received the Bronze Star from Brig. Gen. Kurt Neubauer, 56th Fighter Wing commander, Dec. 22, 2009.

Senior Airman Johnny Martinez, 56th LRS vehicle operator and dispatcher, was presented the medal for combat actions performed during his first deployment to Afghanistan, August 2008 to August 2009.

Airman Martinez credits the combat skills training he received at Fort Riley, Kan., prior to his deployment, for helping to keep him levelheaded.

"The training really prepared me for the incident, especially convoy tactics, which taught us how to react to small arms and improvised explosive device attacks," he said. "The team I was with was mostly Iraq war veterans, and they took me under "their wing," because they knew it was my first time."

Excerpts from the day of the incident could rival text book maneuvers and play out in scenes from popular war movies.

As the driver of one of four U.S. military vehicles, Airman Martinez and his team were traveling from southern Kandahar back to Kabul while providing security for a convoy of more than 200 Afghan military and supply trucks. Halfway into the 300-mile trip, one of the Afghan trucks broke down on the outskirts of a small town. Airman Martinez and his team posted a defensive posture at the rear of the convoy when they were attacked.

"Just as the Afghans fixed their truck, small arms fire broke out in the background, but we just pressed and rolled on," the Las Vegas, Nev., native said. "That's when one of the Afghan trucks in the middle was hit by an IED."

Displaying courage under fire and fighting alongside members of the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division providing suppressive fire and neutralizing insurgents, Airman Martinez quickly maneuvered to the middle of the convoy only to discover casualties among his Afghan counterparts.

"The driver was mortally wounded and passenger critically injured," he said. "We rolled up beside the damaged vehicle to provide security and recover the dead and wounded."

The engagement lasted a little more than 10 minutes. The team did not want to leave military assets in the hands of insurgents, so they pulled the damaged vehicle out of the kill zone to Kabul.

The vehicle breakdown and ensuing firefight, stretched a normal eight-hour convoy into a 15-hour ordeal.

During his year-long tour, Airman Martinez helped secure 63 convoys valued at $4 million, traveled more than 10,000 miles and helped equip 134,000 warfighters.

His efforts attributed to the largest Operation Enduring Freedom convoy of 226 U.S. and 400 Afghan trucks, enabling the opening of a forward operating base in the Shindand Province of Afghanistan.

"Airman Martinez is an incredible Airman that displayed the courage to act in order to save others," said Lt. Col. Carrie Bausano, 56th LRS commander. "His actions are a testament to the training he received and heroism that is in all of us."