Contributed by Gene Newsom

OHIO NUMBERS (SEPT. 3 - 9):   
    

*Slots: 1355

*Loads: 131

*Tandem: 323

*AFF: 81

*Fun Jumpers Slots: 328

THANK YOU, NORMAN KENT!

We'd like to give a big thank you to Norman Kent for coming out and sharing his expertise this past weekend covering in air and ground material. Thank you also to all those that participated in the class and those who came out to the evening event. A lot of information was conveyed as well as the viewing of a lot of awesome video and stills from Norman's various projects.
 

MILESTONES
 

Nathan Bridenbaugh obtained his A-license!

Zeke Allmon obtained his B-license!

Brad Hunt, Adam Ralston, and Kyle Whittier obtained their AFFI ratings!

 

Congratulations to all!

Also Clayton Strider made a tandem jump for his 100th Birthday!  Scroll down for details and photos!

 

Nathan Bridenbaugh obtained his A-license.

  

Zeke Allmon obtained his B-license.

   

Also this week, on September 17, Eric and Kristi Boerger became the proud parents of Kara.  As you can tell by the following photo, both mom and baby are doing great!  Welcome to the world and to the Start family, Kara!

Kristi Boerger with lovely daughter, Kara

 

Back to Top      

Master Sgt. Michael Hunter received the nation's third highest medal for combat valor, two years after he took control of a faltering mission that ultimately led to the deaths of more than 100 insurgents and helped NATO destroy entrenched enemy bunkers in western Afghanistan.

Master Sgt. Michael Hunter, 35, not only received the Silver Star for that April 2010 raid, but also a Bronze Star for a June 2010 mission in which he delivered medical assistance to two wounded soldiers during a 16-hour firefight. Hunter's Bronze Star commendation reads: "His courageous actions all the way through the engagement kept momentum in the friendly force's favor and were decisive to repelling a determined enemy assault and the successful treatment and evacuation of two critically injured U.S. soldiers."

Hunter is a married father of four who has served in Lewis-McChord's 1st Special Forces Group since 2007. In addition to fighting in Afghanistan, he has deployed to Iraq, Cambodia and the Philippines.

His Silver Star commendation says Hunter played a crucial role in executing a joint raid with 28 Afghan commandos and three other American special operators. They intended to identify hardened enemy positions in the Bala Morghab District near Afghanistan's border with Turkmenistan. They found a surprising network of enemy compounds full of fighters. By the time of the raid, insurgents had forced out civilians and laid defenses including mined wire obstacles and machine gun bunkers. The joint commando team snuck through the enemy's front line and scouted further positions. They first took fire when a man peeked out at them from around a corner and returned with an AK-47. The commandos killed that first shooter and took more fire as they approached one of the main enemy positions, killing several insurgents but suffering several nonfatal injuries among their own ranks. They created a helicopter landing zone to evacuate the first four friendly casualties. Commandos kept moving toward enemy positions, but the Afghan forces started to show reluctance after losing several of their teammates. They were hit hard while trying to clear insurgent tunnels. Hunter's Silver Star commendation reads: "When the (Afghan) commandos refused to return to the offensive and attack the insurgents, Sergeant Hunter calmly stepped to the front of them, moved to the nearest tunnel entrance where the enemy was firing from and personally neutralized the insurgents with fragmentation grenades and M4 small arms fire."

Afterward, Hunter persisted in putting himself in danger to lead the way for the U.S. and Afghan special operators attacking the enemy compounds. They discovered an elaborate tunnel network, which they helped obliterate by calling in NATO close air support. Western aircraft dropped four 500-pound bombs on the site, "reducing the compound," as the commendation reads. Hunter's commendation praises him for having the foresight to gather photographs of enemy positions and to pick up material for intelligence analysis. It also says he played an important role in helping the commands from both nations withdraw from the fight under heavy fire. "Sergeant Hunter refused to allow other (Special Operations Forces) operators to place themselves in these exposed positions and insisted on assuming rearguard duty yet again," his commendation reads. "Sergeant Hunter's repeated heroic, selfless actions throughout the withdrawal allowed the patrol to get back to Firebase Todd without suffering any additional serious casualties. Throughout the entire 10-hour engagement, Sergeant Hunter repeatedly provided inspiration, leadership, and guidance to brother SOF operators and Afghanistan Army commandos." 

Hey, everybody, I'd like to get started on the Year End Video, so please contact me if you have footage you'd like to include.  Email me (eboerger@insight.rr.com), text, call or contact me on Facebook.  Please do this as soon as possible so I will have plenty of time to compile an awesome video!

Thanks!
-- Eric