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MHAFB Sergeant earns Bronze Star medal
Staff Sergeant Jason A. Kimberling, assigned to the 366th Security Forces Squadron at Mountain Home AFB, was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with valor and the Army Commendation Medal last Thursday, July 19, for his actions on Aug. 8, 2006, in Qalat Province, Afghanistan.
Nearly a year ago, Sgt. Kimberling was part of a three-man security forces convoy team that was called upon to assist about 15 members of the Afghan National Police and 20 members of the Afghan National Army when they came under attack from Taliban forces on a highway checkpoint located in Afghanistan's Qalat Province.
"They're calling me a hero. I don't think I did anything special. I went out there to do my job," said Sgt. Kimberling.
In a nearby village that was believed to be harboring insurgent forces, a force of over 100 Taliban foreign fighters unleashed an intense, coordinated ambush with rocket propelled grenades, small arms and machine gun fire against the group.
The initial RPG came within five meters of Sgt. Kimberling's vehicle followed by numerous other RPGs and small arms fire from at least five machine gun positions concealed within a nearby residential compound.
The HUMVEE Sergeant Kimberling was riding in immediately maneuvered to take cover. He then dismounted the vehicle and moved into position to return fire. During that time, his position was directly struck by an RPG. The blast concussion was so violent that both Sgt. Kimberling and a fellow security forces Airman were thrown to the ground.
While recovering from the blast, Sgt. Kimberling peered over a wall they had taken cover behind and identified two enemy Taliban fighters emerge from a residential house and open fire on his position.
With enemy fire now coming into his position from three sides, Sgt. Kimberling immediately killed both enemy fighters causing the enemy attack to immediately falter and allowing both the Afghan National Police and Afghan National Army troops to maneuver around and eliminate the remaining enemy near their position.
The cumulative effect of Sgt. Kimberling's actions prevented the entire coalition convoy from being dangerously split by the enemy fighters.
"Simply stated, Sgt. Kimberling is an Air Force combat hero," said Col. Thomas Laffey, 366th Mission Support Group commander.
"And if all of that wasn't enough, during the attack, Sgt. Kimberling had the situational awareness to call in close air support from nearby Dutch NATO aircraft that were patrolling the area. He achieved this while under very heavy fire for more than two hours," added Col. Laffey.
The air support directly prevented the coalition's fallback position from being overrun by the Taliban forces.
Overall, his actions were considered instrumental in eliminating an estimated 20 anti-coalition militants, saved the lives of more than two dozen Afghan soldiers and police and resulted in zero casualties to any of the coalition forces, during what was described by a base spokesperson as "an extremely intense firefight."
"Sgt. Kimberling is a modest man. He says he's not a hero but he is," said MSgt. John Jackson, 366th Security Forces Squadron's superintendent of logistics and Sgt. Kimberling's supervisor.
The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any service member for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service and may be awarded with valor for courage under fire.
The Army Commendation Medal is awarded to any service member who distinguishes themselves by sustained acts of heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.
The Air Force, primarily security forces units, have been heavily tasked in recent years to take up convoy and other security duties that normally would have been the responsibility of Army and Marine units. But the U.S. Army and the Marines have been stretched thin due to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, forcing the Air Force to pick up some of the slack.
Sgt. Kimberling is the latest in a growing list of Air Force personnel who have been honored for their bravery in direct ground combat operations.