Tech. Sgt. Raymond Viel, 146th Air Support Operations Squadron, is presented the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with Valor and the Air Force Combat Action Medal by Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Director Air National Guard, on August 18, 2012, he supported of the 1st Battalion, 179th Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team while engaged in ground combat against hostile forces in service to the United States Army resulting in killing seven insurgents and fatally wounding one High Value Individual. Tech. Sgt. Viel was deployed to Laghman Province, Afghanistan from July 2011 through March 2012. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Roberta A. Thompson) (Released)

Lt. Col. James Waltermire, 146th Air Support Operations Squadron, is presented the Bronze Star Medal by Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Director Air National Guard

Lt. Col. James Waltermire, 146th Air Support Operations Squadron, is presented the Bronze Star Medal by Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Director Air National Guard, on August 18, 2012 for his actions as the Brigade Air Liaison Officer for the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team while engaged in ground combat against hostile forces. Lt. Col. Waltermire was deployed to Laghman, Nuristan Provinces, Regional Command-East, Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom from December 2, 2011 through March 5, 2012. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Roberta A. Thompson) (Released)

Master Sgt. Edgar Rodriguez, 146th Air Support Operations Squadron, is presented the Bronze Star Medal by Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Director Air National Guard

Master Sgt. Edgar Rodriguez, 146th Air Support Operations Squadron, is presented the Bronze Star Medal by Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Director Air National Guard, on August 18, 2012 for his actions as the Brigade Tactical Air Control Party Noncommissioned Officer in Charge for the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team while engaged in ground combat against hostile forces. Master Sgt. Rodriquez was deployed from November 30, 2011 through March 6, 2012. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Roberta A. Thompson) (Released)

Senior Airman Jameson Decker, 146th Air Support Operations Squadron, is presented the Army Commendation Medal by Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Director Air National Guard

Senior Airman Jameson Decker, 146th Air Support Operations Squadron, is presented the Army Commendation Medal by Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Director Air National Guard, on August 18, 2012 for meritorious service while assigned as Joint Terminal Attack Controllers in support of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team during Operations Enduring Freedom. Senior Airman Decker was deployed from November 2011 through March 2012. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Roberta A. Thompson) (Released)

Airmen from the 146th Air Support Operations Squadron at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base are honored for their service in Afghanistan during a ceremony held on base Aug. 18.

Airmen from the 146th Air Support Operations Squadron at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base are honored for their service in Afghanistan during a ceremony held on base Aug. 18. Bronze Star medals, Army Commendation Medals and Air Force Combat Medals were presented by Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Director Air National Guard.

ASOS Airmen awarded for heroism

Published Aug. 20, 2012
By Senior Airman Patricia Baker
137 ARW Public Affairs

TINKER AFB, OK (8/18/2012) -- Seventeen Airmen from the 146th Air Support Operations Squadron at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base were honored for their service in Afghanistan during a ceremony held on base Aug. 18.

Lt. Cols. Bruce Hamilton and James Waltermire, Senior Master Sgt. Perry Jackson, Master Sgt. Edgar Rodriguez, 2nd Lt. Christopher Schutte, Tech. Sgts. Robert Ellis, Brandon White and Raymond Viel received the Bronze Star Medal.

Tech. Sgts. Robert Beene, Larry Mansell, Christopher Vaughn, Andrew Guidry, Staff Sgts. Caldeen Gunter, Justin Hamilton, Benjamin Lake, Senior Airmen Gregory Childers and Jameson Decker received the Army Commendation Medal.

Lt. Col. James Waltermire, Tech. Sgts. Raymond Viel, Andrew Guidry, Larry Mansell, Brandon White, and Senior Airman Jameson Decker received the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

Viel received a "Valor" device with his Bronze Star Medal.

The WRANGB troops were deployed in efforts of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The squadron was deployed from July 2011 to April 2012.

Tech. Sgt. Larry Mansell, a member of the squadron, said the Oklahoma Air National Guard is instrumental to the mission of troops overseas.

Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Director Air National Guard, said, "It was very important to me; if we were going to send Oklahoma Soldiers into battle we were going to send Oklahoma Airmen there with them."

"It's a very powerful unit," he said, "it brings the full force and fury of the United States Air Force into the fight."

The WRANGB Airmen all participated in or contributed to close air-to ground fire strikes on hostile forces, maintaining friendly force positioning, engaging in ground combat with enemy forces, and deterring or completely denying enemy action.

Lt. Col. Bruce Hamilton, the commander for the 146 ASOS, said "I don't think the Army Guard really realized what we bring to the battlefield. I think they really do now."