Beyond Expectations

According to one of his bosses, 2nd Lt. Jack McGonegal performed “beyond my expectations of a second lieutenant” in serving as deputy commander of a Quick Reaction Force and theater internment facility operations commander in Iraq. Lt. Col. Paul Scholl, vice commander of the 50th Mission Support Group, made that observation as he pinned a Bronze Star on McGonegal. The young officer cited “a couple thousand detainees rioting” as “probably one of the most extreme experiences” requiring a QRF response within minutes. His actions included personally preventing one detainee from going over the fence during one of 10 large-scale disturbances. McGonegal is a member of the 22nd Security Forces Squadron at McConnell AFB, Kan. (Base report by A1C Jessica Lockoski)