Published: June 27, 2009 11:59 pm      

Service with valor

Bronze Stars given for service in Afghanistan

ASHLAND — The unison voices of members of the 201st Engineer Battalion rang through the rafters of the Ashland Armory Saturday morning as the soldiers came to attention for a ceremony to honor those among them selected to receive the Bronze Star for valor during combat during their recent mission in Afghanistan.

It was a brief ceremony, filled with phrases including “personal courage and commitment to the mission,” “in a combat zone under the most extreme circumstance,” “gallantry,” “professionalism,” “enemy rocket attack,” “ambush,” “rendering aid,” and “heavy enemy fire.”

Maj. Gen. Edward Tonini expressed his pride in the medal recipients, as well as all members of the 201st who completed their mission in Afghanistan.

“I am absolutely in awe of you as individuals and as a unit,” Tonini said. “You have my absolute, sincere admiration and personal thanks for a job well done.”

Tonini said members of the local combat engineering unit are among the nation’s elite.

“They are simply the best. It doesn’t matter if you’re talking Kentucky or the nation. Simply put, there’s none better,” the major general said.

Members of the 20st Engineer Battalion who received the Bronze Star with Valor medal were:

From Ashland: Staff Sgt. Stephen Summers, Army Commendation Medal; Staff Sgt. Dwight Kinder, Bronze Star Medal with "V" device; Spc. Thomas Hay, Bronze Star Medal with "V" device; and Spc. Travis Steward, Bronze Star Medal with "V" device and a (second) Bronze Star Medal.

From Cynthiana: Staff Sgt. Jerry Sipe, Army Commendation Medal; Spc Ryan Raker, Bronze Star Medal and the Army Commendation Medal with "V" device; and Spc. Michael Slone, Bronze Star Medal with "V" device.

From Olive Hill: Sgt. Joshua Brown, Bronze Star Medal with "V" device; and

Spc. Justin Thuma, Bronze Star Medal with "V" device.

From Prestonsburg: Sgt. 1st Class Vincent Matteini, Bronze Star Medal; Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Goble, Bronze Star Medal with "V" device; Staff Sgt. Kenneth Fairchild, Bronze Star Medal with "V" device; Staff Sgt. Michael Cracea, Bronze Star Medal with "V" device.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2651.