Travis Airmen honored with Purple Hearts

Published Jan. 5, 2012
By Staff Sgt. Timothy Boyer
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Three Travis Airmen were awarded Purple Hearts in a ceremony today at the base theater. The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the United States armed forces who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy, or posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who were killed in action or died of wounds received in action. Tech. Sgt. Ronnie Brickey, Staff Sgt. David Adkins and Staff Sgt. Brian Buhrer, all 60th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight members, were injured during improvised explosive device attacks during combat missions in Afghanistan.

As part of the 466th Operating Location Bravo EOD Team 8, Adkins, 60th CES munitions NCO in charge, and Brickey, 60th CES ordnance resources NCOIC, responded to cries for help on their radios July 17 after hearing a detonation which killed one and injured four, Brickey said. Brickey began clearing a path to the dead and injured while Adkins began clearing the entire dirt road to provide a safe evacuation route for casualties.

Adkins and Brickey met up near an uncovered IED to formalize a plan when a Soldier stepped outside the cleared area setting off a large IED within 10 feet of them, fatally wounding the Soldier and injuring seven to include Adkins and Brickey. Brickey was transported by medical evacuation while Adkins stayed behind to finish the render-safe procedures on the remaining IED, conduct the full post-blast investigation and evacuate remaining personnel.

During the ceremony, Brickey was the first to receive the Purple Heart for the wounds he received from the close-proximity IED blast.

"He has executed 134 emergency responses in the 33,000 square-mile local area, assisted the U.S. Secret Service on 15 VIP missions and has been deployed four times to Iraq and Afghanistan earning four Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart," said Capt. Robert Hudson, 60th CES EOD flight commander.

Adkins was the next to receive the Purple Heart from a close-proximity IED blast.

"On his recent deployment to Afghanistan, Adkins accumulated more than 100 combat missions while defeating over 50 IEDs," Hudson said.

Adkins has earned a Purple Heart, an Army Commendation Medal and an Air Force Combat Action Medal, he said.

Buhrer, 60th CES supply NCOIC currently recovering from injuries he sustained from the IED which exploded on his vehicle, was the final recipient of the ceremony to receive the Purple Heart.

Buhrer was part of the 466th Operating Location Alpha EOD Team 7 stationed in Afghanistan on Nov. 3 when he was injured, Hudson said. While conducting a ground combat mission route clearance patrol, Buhrer's mine resistant ambush protected vehicle was hit by a large IED explosion on the left side. Buhrer was knocked unconscious from the blast and woke up to neck, back and elbow injuries. He was transported to Forward Operating Base Ghazni and triaged by the only all-Air Force field surgical team in the country. Once stabilized, he was transported to Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, by Air Force Para-rescue aircraft.

"He has seen three combat deployments from which he has earned a Purple Heart, Army Commendation and Achievement Medals, as well as, a Navy Achievement Medal," Hudson said.

"Technical Sergeant Brickey, Staff Sergeant Adkins and Staff Sergeant Buhrer risked their lives to minimize the risk to others," said Col. Dwight Sones, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander.

"These exemplary Airmen clearly display the true meaning of service before self and we are proud to honor their bravery and sacrifice."