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AMC commander presents medals to Travis aircrew

  • Published
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Following a whirlwind 12-day tour of bases and ports throughout the Pacific, Gen. John W. Handy, commander of U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command visited here March 5.

During a commander's call, General Handy formally recognized the outstanding efforts of a Travis aircrew for safely landing a C-5 Galaxy aircraft after its No. 4 engine was struck by hostile fire upon departure from Baghdad International Airport in January. This was the first hostile fire incident involving a Travis aircraft and the second for the command in that area of operations.

"There are truly no words one can express about what a great honor it is to stand on the same stage with crew members as incredible as these certainly are," General Handy said to the audience of more than 700 military members, civilian employees, family members and media.

As citations were read, the general presented Air Medals for meritorious achievement to Capt. Zach Zeiner, instructor pilot; Capt. Steve Radtke, pilot; Master Sgt. Geoffrey Miller, flight engineer; and Tech. Sgt. Eric Troutt, instructor flight engineer.

He presented Commendation Medals for outstanding achievement to Capt. Jeff Krulick, pilot; Tech. Sgt. Marcus Rettig, flight engineer; Tech. Sgt. Reginald Bazemore, instructor loadmaster; Staff Sgt. Jeff Stanhope, loadmaster; Senior Airman John Cooper, loadmaster; and Airman Mohammed Seidu, loadmaster.

The general told the crowd, "There's no place in the world I'd rather be today than right here, with this crew, and each one of you, to tell you how proud I am of what they did on that incredible day in Baghdad.

"Until you've been hit with a man-pad two minutes after take off, in a heavyweight C-5 or any other aircraft, nobody can predict what will go through your mind, nobody knows how you'll react -- and nobody knows the intensity of those feelings -- until you've been there.

"Each one of those crewmembers will always have those crisp memories that will never be fogged by time or age. They'll always remember that time as a team they rallied together and did the things they were supposed to do ... the things they're dedicated to do and the things that as Airmen we all raise our right hand and swear to do," said General Handy.

General Handy also applauded the contributions of every person within the wing, command and Department of Defense, and thanked the families for their support.

"In the same breath as we honor them, I know in my heart as well as they do, that this is also an opportunity to honor every single one of you, not only here in this room today, but throughout the 60th Air Mobility Wing and, in fact, throughout Air Mobility Command, and if you carry it to the furthest extension, throughout the Department of Defense, because what these folks together have done as a team is absolutely reflective of what every single one of you would do in the air or on the ground when given these kind of challenges," he added.

"I'd be remiss, too, if at the same time I didn't recognize the fact that those of us in uniform can't do the incredible things we do without the incredible support from our spouses our family our friends, those who surround us, both close and personal as well as extended. We just don't do these kinds of things without that incredible support.

"I'm so very, very proud of you all. You honor us all by your actions, your deeds, your example and I certainly salute every single one of you," the general said.