SF Airman Receives Bronze Star

MSgt. Michael Russell, with 4th Security Forces Squadron, Seymour-Johnson AFB, N.C., recently received a Bronze Star for actions while he served in Southwest Asia in 2004. During a three-hour long attack on Balad AB, Iraq, when a mortar struck a tent, Russell entered the smoke-filled tent and led three troops to safety. He returned to give artificial respiration to another in the tent until medical help arrived. In a second action, Russell detained a suspicious individual and, as shots were fired at the man by villagers, dropped to the ground covering the man, who turned out to be a high-level target wanted for interrogation by coalition authorities. The Seymour-Johnson Wright Times quoted Russell’s former commander, Capt. Pedro Rosario, who said that Russell has “great character” and is a “great combat leader.” Rosario added, “He’s the real deal.”