EOD staff sergeant receives Bronze Star

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Colleen Wieman
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Aviano Air Base, Italy --  A 31st Civil Engineer Squadron member was awarded a Bronze Star for his actions while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Howie Loughran, Explosive Ordnance Disposal team leader, was presented the medal in December.

"Our squadron commander presented the medal to me, and our junior team members were awarded Army Commendation medals at the same time," he said. "We really wanted to have our decorations presented at the same time because we deployed and operated as a team. We wanted to be recognized as a team."

Sergeant Loughran added that Improvised Explosive Devices are the main threat to Coalition Forces and it was their team's responsibility to render IEDs safe. "We operated safely for six months," he said. "There's a lot to be said for that."

During his deployment, his team executed more than 110 combat missions, diffused more than 80 IEDs and destroyed more than 50,000 pieces of ordnance. "Senior Airman Tony Cerrone [31st CES EOD technician] was my team member for the entire deployment. He really had my back as we covered more than 31,000 square kilometers of Iraq," Sergeant Loughran said.

While deployed, Sergeant Loughran worked with a joint team that included the U.S. Army and sometimes the Iraqi army and police.

"We were the only four Air Force guys on the [Forward Operating Base,]" he said. "When we responded to calls, there were 16 Soldiers with us. We were like brothers. The Soldiers ensured our safety to and from the site and we ensured their safety on scene."

As EOD team leader, Sergeant Loughran was in charge of the entire group while at an incident location.

"I controlled and was responsible for everything, to include the Army Quick Response Force, Iraqi army, Iraqi police, and civilians. he said. "It was powerful, yet a huge sense of responsibility. I had to factor in every possible thing that could happen including a safe area for disposal of hazardous items, movement of personnel, and the safety of infrastructure in the area. Prior to departing any scene, it was my responsibility to verify the area was safe for Coalition Forces and local nationals."

In one incident, Sergeant Loughran took charge when his team responded to a vehicle that was filled with IEDs and detonated in a nearby town.

"When we arrived at the scene, I directed the team to use a robot to clear the incident site," he said. "With the robot, we discovered a smoking and damaged white phosphorous-filled 152mm projectile that had been ejected from the vehicle when the car exploded.

"In order to protect the local nationals and to preserve homes and businesses, I directed the quick response force to clear the streets of civilians," he sad. "I had the Iraqi fire department control the flames of the projectile so we could move it to a safe place and detonate it. We acquired a metal drum large enough to hold the projectile, filled it with water, and secured it on the back of a truck."

Sergeant Loughran then put on a bomb suit and the fire department soaked him down with water. He quickly carried the round to the truck and placed it in the drum.

"We located an open field nearby and were able to detonate the hazardous projectile there without damage to personnel or infrastructure," he said.

Sergeant Loughran said he finds his job extremely rewarding. "When we are leaving an incident site and see the kids smile and wave, we know every day that we are making life a little bit safer for them," he said.