ArmyFirefight3r

Wow, i just got notification that we won our Region for the DOD HEROISM Award, which is pretty cool! The Fire Chief put us in for an award for all of us that went to IRAQ and for the stuff we did... and it came back and we won! Just through i'd share with you guys.

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IMA NWR HEROISM WINNER

63rd ORDNANCE COMPANY, FORT LEWIS
SGT ADAM C. LAW
SGT JESSE RICHARDSON
SGT THOMAS LEACH
SPC PETER CUSHMAN
SPC CEDRIC CANTON
SPC TRAVIS FREDRICK
SPC RAY WALIANY
SPC TRAVIS RAYMOND
SPC MATTHEW ESPINOSA
SPC JOSHUA MAEHLER
PV2 JAMES LAATSCH



2004 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MILITARY FIREFIGHTER OF YEAR
63RD ORDNANCE COMPANY FIRE FIGHTERS
FORT LEWIS, WASHINGTON

ACT OF HEROISM: PUTTING THE SOLDIERS NEXT TO THEM AHEAD OF THEMSELVES?
63rd Ordnance Company Firefighters were called to defend their country 28 January 2004 to support the on-going war on terrorism in Iraq. Although deployed without fire equipment, the firefighters of 63rd Ordnance covered down and replaced their fire hoses with M16?s, M249?s, M2 .50 cal, and MK19?s. Operating day and night ? often while dodging car bombs, road side bombs, mines, small arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades and rocks thrown by children ? the firefighters of the 63rd Ordnance Company performed above and beyond their duties as firefighters to ensure their fellow Soldiers had the food, water, ammo, fuel, and life support supplies they needed to accomplish their mission.

RISK TO RESCUER: DEDICATED TO DUTY, RESOLUTE IN MISSION?
The 63rd Ordnance firefighters were tasked to the most volatile and violent region of Iraq ? the Sunni triangle. Work was performed under a hailstorm of hostile gunfire where they risked their lives on virtually a daily basis.

APPROACH, METHOD, TECHNIQUE USED: EXPERIENCE EARNED UNDER FIRE?
**63rd Ordnance firefighters performed sling load operations aiding emergency rapid re-supply to forward operating units pinned down due to heavy hostile fire.
**63rd Ordnance firefighters single-handedly turned a bombed out building into the Battalion Casualty Collection Point receiving necessary medical supplies in coordination with the base?s field hospital; Additionally, they organized and conducted mass casualty training and Combat Life Saver exercises for the battalion. 63rd Ordnance firefighters provided an LZ team for emergency medical extractions out of hostile combat zones.
**Constantly striving to protect the welfare of the Soldiers, 63rd Ordnance firefighters combed the perimeter of LSA Anaconda for IEDs, involving EOD, as necessary, for proper disposition.
**63rd Ordnance Firefighters were assigned as the first line of medical attention and medical evacuation to The Cherokee Team, one of a select group of teams assigned to the 172nd Corps Support Group, to perform the rigorous and dangerous duties of protecting logistics convoys along the MSR's (Main Supply Route) and ASRs (Alternate Supply Route) in the Sunni Triangle of Iraq.
**During their stay in Tikrit, 63rd Ordnance Firefighters were tasked out to provide perimeter security, QRF (Quick Response Force) and checkpoints during the nighttime. Equipped with night vision devices, they provided security while soldiers on base slept safely at night. Monitoring, reporting and responding to incoming small arms fire, rockets, mortars, vehicles and convoys along with other actives within their line of sight.

OUTCOME: SAVING COUNTLESS LIVES THROUGH OUTSTANDING SUPPORT AND DEDICATION?
**These soldiers put themselves in harms way on a daily basis protecting the drivers, their fellow Soldiers and their shipments from Baghdad to Kuwait, in the South; Balad through Samarra, and to Tikrit in the North; Baghdad through Al Fallujah to Ar Ramadi and to Al Asad in the West; and Baghdad to Ba Qubah and Kurkush in the East.
**Their bravery, loyalty, outstanding performance of duty, and dedication to mission success reflect great credit upon themselves, the 172d Corps Support Group, the 13th COSCOM and the United States Army.
**Due to the outstanding support and dedication to duty as members of the 369th CSB, Task Force Guard Dog, their performance in an ever-increasing hostile environment resulted in the safe transport of over 780 KBR, PWC and Military Supply trucks carrying food, water, ammunition, fuel, class IX repair parts, and life support supplies over 24,000 miles throughout Iraq and Kuwait. Without their efforts, this would have been an unsuccessful mission.

OTHER: COURAGE FOR, AND DEDICATION TO, ONE ANOTHER?
**63rd Ordnance Firefighters can be relied on 24/7 to get the job done ? no matter the personal danger involved!
**The brotherhood between these firefighters is strong and unbreakable. They have been to war and back together and this has only brought them closer to each other. They are a chain that cannot be broken; without one of these soldiers/firefighters, this chain would not be complete. Without their teamwork and dedication to one another, none of this could have been accomplished!

IT IS THE BRAVEST OF MEN WHO STAND TALL IN THE FACE OF DANGER?

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SPC Ray N. Waliany
United States Army
537th FF E-1 Crew Chief
[email protected]
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Fort Lewis Fire Dept.
Firefighter/EMT-B
[email protected]
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Harmon

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[email protected]