Alaska Air Guardsmen Recognized for Valor

SSgt. Bill Cenna, a pararescueman with the Alaska Air National Guard’s 212th Rescue Squadron, received the Silver Star Medal and two Bronze Star Medals with Valor Devices during a ceremony at JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. The May 18 ceremony recognized Cenna for his heroic actions on three separate occasions, all while deployed to Afghanistan in 2011 and 2012, according to a base release. At the same ceremony, four additional airmen with the squadron each received a Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device for actions in combat during the unit’s deployment to Afghanistan in 2012: Capt. Chris Keen, MSgt. Chad Moore, TSgt. Chris Harding, and SSgt. Nic Watson. “The efforts of all five Alaska Air National Guardsmen helped save American lives as they performed valiantly under fire in service to their state and nation,” states a second Elmendorf release. “They’re true heroes in the purest form,” said Col. Donald Wenke, commander of the Alaska Air Guard’s 176th Wing at Elmendorf. (Includes Elmendorf report by SSgt. N. Alicia Goldberger and Elmendorf report by Maj. Guy Hayes)