Wing Airman earns Bronze Star

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Marnee A.C. Losurdo
  • 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  It's not everyday someone receives a medal for spending a year in prison.

It's even more unusual for that "someone" to earn a bronze star for their efforts; but, it's something Chief Master Sgt. Kenneth Thompson can brag about.

The 512th Equipment Maintenance Squadron first sergeant earned the medal for his one-year tour in Iraq while assigned to the 732nd Expeditionary Support Squadron, Joint Interrogation and Debriefing Center, Multi-National Force-Iraq in Baghdad.

While deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the chief served as the first sergeant and the NCO in charge of operations, supervising a multi-service team, which provided 24-hour support facilitating day-to-day interrogation operations, and ensuring information was provided to U.S. forces to enable them to target insurgent cells, operations and their leaders.

"It was a fantastic mission," he said. "I couldn't have asked for a better mission. Everyone of my Airmen knew they made a difference."

Chief Thompson spent part of the year working and living in the prison cells at a forward operating base at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

The military closed Abu Ghraib last summer and transferred prisoners to other prisons in Iraq and officially handed the facility over the Iraqi government. In June, the chief gave up his prison cell for a tent when he transferred to Camp Cropper, another prison.
The chief volunteered for this mission leaving in December 2005.

"I was proud of supporting the war effort here at Dover, but I wanted to serve there," said the chief, who was activated for four years as the 512th EMS first sergeant here. "When I saw this deployment, it was an opportunity for me to do what I've been trained to do; and, I knew this was my one and only chance to get to the front of the war."

While deployed, the chief oversaw both Army and Air Force personnel.

"It was about 90 percent Army and 10 percent Air Force, so I spent some time educating Army personnel on Air Force culture," he said.

The chief not only oversaw personnel issues and training for AF troops but also served on the force protection working group, verified personnel were accounted for during indirect fire attacks and handled requests for detainee transfers and releases. He also oversaw, coordinated and ensured the safety and security of his personnel involved in convoys.

"My biggest accomplishment was that everyone came back safe with no injuries," he said.

This accomplishment didn't come without challenges; the hardest of those challenges being the length of time away from family and friends, he said.

"Including the training, many of the men and women who volunteered for this assignment, spent almost 18 months away from home," Chief Thompson said.

Time away from the comforts of home gave him a new appreciation for the good Ol' U.S.A, said the chief.

"It's very easy to take life here for granted," he said. "I appreciate a lot of things more than before, such as the freedoms we have--the freedom to see your loved ones, go where you want to, whether it's the movies or ice skating, or to take a long hot shower. It's good to be home."