Departing two-star presents Bronze Star to Reserve colonel

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Denise Johnson
  • 3rd Air Force-United Kingdom Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, United Kingdom --  Maj. Gen. Paul Fletcher had one item left on his to-do list before his final departure from the headquarters building where he worked since Nov. 1, 2005.
The 3rd Air Force-United Kingdom commander called an all-staff meeting for 4 p.m. Sept. 21 so he could present a Bronze Star to Col. William O'Donnell, 3rd AF-UK chief of staff, in the 3rd AF headquarters conference room.
The decoration arrived at the 3rd AF-UK administration section late afternoon Sept. 20. Master Sgt. Lisa Staples, 3rd AF Information Systems Management chief, took the package to Maj. Russ Davis, General Fletcher's executive officer.
When General Fletcher heard about the decoration he said he couldn't leave without tying up this loose end. "I was leaving the country the next day; Colonel O'Donnell was leaving the following week. It was only right that he was awarded the medal here, surrounded by people who know him and respect him."
With few people involved in the decision to present the medal to Colonel O'Donnell, and the pressing timeline for the general's farewell dinner scheduled for that evening, practically no one knew why they were being called to the conference room. The chief of staff was no exception.
"I thought I was supposed to present a medal, or witness a medal presentation. I had no idea," Colonel O'Donnell said. "I was sincerely honored that the general presented the medal to me before he left. It meant even more because of that."
The medal was awarded for meritorious service while deployed to Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, from Dec. 15, 2003, until April 2, 2004. Colonel O'Donnell served as the 386th Air Expeditionary Group commander while a lieutenant colonel. He distinguished himself by meritorious achievement while engaged in ground operations against an opposing armed force in the United States Central Command area of responsibility, according to the citation. His group of AF Reserve, Air National Guard and active-duty Airmen flew over 7,900 mishap-free combat hours, executed 5,400 sorties and transported more than 106,000 passengers and 13,000 tons of cargo in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, as well as Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.
"We all worked hard," Colonel O'Donnell said. "This medal is a reflection of a superb group of folks who I was lucky enough to command in a very important time in our history."
The Bronze Star Medal is the fourth-highest combat award in the U.S. Armed Forces. It is awarded to Armed Forces members for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service, not involving participation in aerial flight, while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
To be eligible for the Bronze Star Medal, a military member must be receiving hostile fire/imminent danger pay during the event for which the medal is to be awarded.
Colonel O'Donnell left RAF Mildenhall Sept. 30. He will go to Ramstein AB, Germany, Nov. 1 to assume the role of deputy political advisor for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander.