S. Idaho soldier awarded Bronze Star

GOODING, Idaho (AP) _ A southern Idaho soldier has been awarded a Bronze Star for his service in Afghanistan.

Army Staff Sgt. Jefferson Tews, a 2000 graduate of Gooding High School, received the medal earlier this year while in Afghanistan, where he was stationed from March 2008 to last month.

``I like doing my job,'' Tews, 26, told The Times-News. ``I like getting deployed.''

The Bronze Star is awarded for acts of heroism or for distinguished service.

Tews' commanders, in a statement that accompanied the award, said his combination of mounted navigation skills and ability to control combat factors displayed the flexibility of his leadership skills.

In Afghanistan, Tews served as a weapons squad leader in the 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Division.

Tews prepared his squad for numerous humanitarian missions as Charlie Company traveled extensively as a ground assault convoy.

``During dismounted patrols,'' the statement said, ``Tews led his peers by example once again.''

The statement also said that Tews' ``overall grasp of the security situation enabled him to paint a clear picture for the chain of command when reporting, allowing the chain of command to make sound decisions.''

Tews gave credit to the soldiers he worked with.

``If they give 100 percent, then it just kind of reflects on me,'' he said. ``If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be getting it.''

While in Afghanistan, Tews' unit was involved in firefights. But he said otherwise the landscape appeared familiar.

``It's amazing how much the country looks like southern Idaho,'' said Tews, who has been in the Army nearly nine years and plans to make it his career.

Tews in 2003 was awarded a Purple Heart while in Iraq when he was injured by a car bomb that wounded 56 people.

``As for what he's doing, I don't question him because it's his job,'' said his father, Clarence Tews, of Jerome. ``You look for all the news for Iraq or Afghanistan all the time and it wears you out after several deployments. He's very professional and very good at his job. I'm really proud of him. He's done good.''