Four Alaska Air Guardsmen awarded Bronze Star
December 8, 2013
By Major Candis Olmstead

CAMP DENALI, Alaska — Four members of the Alaska Air National Guard’s 212th Rescue Squadron were awarded the Bronze Star in a ceremony Saturday on Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson.

Combat rescue officer Major Matthew Komatsu and pararescuemen Chief Master Sgergeant Paul Barendregt and Master Sergeant Kyle Minshew, were deployed and assigned to the 46th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron when they responded to an enemy attack on Camp Bastion in Afghanistan the night of September 14, 2012.

Fifteen Taliban insurgents breached base defenses armed with rocket-propelled grenades, assault weapons, and suicide improvised explosive device vests. Without hesitation, and under fire from enemy positions, Komatsu, Barendregt and Minshew entered directly into enemy engagement to help defend the base, coalition troops, provide medical assistance to casualties, and establish critical radio communications with friendly air support.

They deconflicted positions to ensure multiple airstrikes were outside the range of coalition troops, ensuring offensive measures against enemy troops and avoiding unintended consequences.

Komatsu, Barendregt and Minshew’s heroic actions led to seven lives saved, and protection of garrison forces and materiel assets from further destruction.

The fourth Bronze Star being awarded is for Senior Airman Andrew Nichols, a pararescueman who was assigned to the 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron while deployed to Afghanistan.

On July 19, 2011, Nichols was launched with a crew to recover a U.S. soldier who had received critical gunshot wounds. Nichols and his teammate sprinted under live-fire from multiple directions in harsh, steep terrain to the soldier, and Nichols carried him back to the helicopter under continued enemy fire. He then stabilized the critical patient in-flight. He is credited for saving the soldier’s life.

"Each of these warriors conducted their duties under extreme circumstances to repel the enemy, save lives, and return with honor those who perished,” said Maj. Joseph Conroy, commander of the 212 RQS.

The Alaska Air National Guard’s 212 Rescue Squdron (212 RQS) is the busiest rescue force in the Department of Defense. While deployed in support of combat operations, they are experts in rescuing or recovering isolated personnel in enemy territory. While at home, they respond to 11th Air Force Rescue Coordination Center requests for emergency assistance when civilian assets are unavailable.

As part of a network of agencies, the 212 RQS conducts hundreds of search and rescue missions in Alaska every year and have helped save about two thousand lives.

The Bronze Star Medal is the fourth-highest individual military award in the U.S. military.