Two Bronze Stars Awarded

The Air Force has awarded Bronze Star medals to CMSgt. David Nordel and TSgt. Michael Allen for the efforts while deployed to Iraq. The Chico (Calif.) Enterprise Record reports that Nordel, a medical service NCO currently assigned to Fairchild AFB, Wash., received his award for overseeing more than 200 medics engaged in direct-combat casualty care. He served as superintendent of the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group at Balad AB, Iraq. Of note, too, Nordel sent his medal to his mother in Orland, Calif., who told the newspaper, “Even if he wasn’t my son, I’d be so proud to know a man like him.” At Andersen AFB, Guam, Allen received his award for his actions as a contingency contracting officer for the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq Support Division in its efforts to rebuild the Iraqi military infrastructure. His deployed unit commander, Lt. Col. Michael Dombrowski, said, “He saved the day on numerous projects by picking them up mid-stream to keep them going and all were for the Iraqi police and army to train and stage them,” helping to reduce the number of US troops “needed to accomplish the mission there.” (Andersen report by TSgt. Brian Bahret)