Ramstein member receives Shining Star Award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Tony R. Ritter
  • 435th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Ramstein's Shining Star Award was presented to Master Sgt. Mark Mueller by the Airman and Family Readiness Center and the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing commander during a recent commander's call.

Nominated by Kristi Magee and her husband, Tech. Sgt. Daniel Magee, Sergeant Mueller was presented the prestigious award, first received in 2006, for providing continuous care to the Magee family every since Tech. Sgt. Magee was the victim of a serious automobile accident in May 2008.

"Sergeant Mueller literally met me at the scene of my husband's accident and stayed with us at the hospital through those critical hours when my husband's condition was still quite grave and the doctors themselves were not sure whether he'd make it through the night," said Mrs. Magee. " Mark continued to support us in every way possible; fielding calls from my husband's chain of command, dealing with the junking and de-registration of our totaled car, and coordinating arrival plans of family and visits from command staff.
After we were medevaced to Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, District of Columbia, for my husband's continued intensive care, Mark took care of my in-laws and our two children, until they were able to join us in the states."

Even after Sergeant Mueller had effectively coordinated the return of the entire Magee family to the states to be near Daniel during his surgeries and treatment at Walter Reed, he continued to oversee the Magee's affairs in Germany.

"During the three months we were at Walter Reed, Sergeant Mueller continued to take care of our home in Germany by mowing the lawn, taking out the trash, cleaning, checking on the house and collecting the mail." said Mrs. Magee, "And when it was time for us to return to Germany, Mark and his family stocked our house with groceries so there would be fresh fruit, bread, milk, etc. in our house so we wouldn't have to go to the store immediately."

The award was presented by Col. Kimberly Corcoran, 521st AMOW commander.

"When I first visited Dan and Kristi in the hospital, nearly the first thing they spoke about was the support that Master Sergeant Mueller was providing them," said Col. Corcoran. "Sergeant Mueller was there, he was prepared and he was the rock that the Magee family stood on for a long time."

Tech. Sgt. Daniel Magee was in agreement.

"Master Sergeant Mueller is deserving of this award and much more," said Tech. Sgt. Magee. "He has gone above and beyond the call of duty and has really gone out of his way to make sure my family and I have been taken care of not only the night of the accident but has continued his support through my surgeries and physical therapy."

The Ramstein Airman and Family Readiness Center collects nomination forms through-out the year from individuals that have been the recipient of the nominee' s support.

"We carefully review all of the nomination forms looking for the nominee that has really gone beyond the call of duty in their support of another individual or family," said Teresa Hernandez, Ramstein AFRC Volunteer Program Coordinator. "The Shining Star Award winner is someone who has provided long-term support and care to individuals in need."