CSAF presents two Purple Hearts at Bagram Airfield

  • Published
  • By Capt. Erick Saks
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) --  Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz presented two Airmen with Purple Hearts during a ceremony here Jan. 19.

Capt. Gil Wyche, a security forces officer assigned to the 966th Air Expeditionary Squadron, and Senior Airman Brandon Cullen Towle, a joint terminal attack controller assigned to the 817th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron, received the medals for injuries sustained during combat engagements in Afghanistan.

"The Purple Heart is not something that you desire to receive," said General Schwartz before a crowd of more than 300 Airmen. "But, it has to be the award that's given with the most respect."

Captain Wyche was assigned to Forward Operating Base Fenty in Jalalabad during an attack in mid-November. The attack involved insurgents armed with small arms and grenades rushing the base perimeter.

During the standoff, the captain received the brunt of a grenade blast's shrapnel. The captain and his team continued to mount their defense, despite the injuries, and were ultimately successful in holding off the assault.

The captain was humbled when he learned that General Schwartz would be presenting his medal.

"I felt honored to have the highest-ranking officer in the Air Force present this to me in a combat zone," said Captain Wyche, who is deployed from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. "It's good for all Defenders for what we do every day, and it's good for my team at FOB Fenty who stood on that line in a firefight for three hours. It's really for all of us."

Captain Wyche said he was aware of the potential risks prior to forward deploying to the small FOB, but the seriousness of the threat he faced did not sink in until he was engaged in combat.

"We knew where we were going and we knew it was a hotbed," Captain Wyche said. "But, nothing can prepare you until the bullets actually start flying, grenades start getting thrown on top of you, and you start firing back. My guys responded very well."

Airman Cullen Towle received the Purple Heart for his actions following an attack while he was assigned to FOB Connolly in Nangarhar province. He was working out at the gym in early January when the location was struck by indirect fire. The Airman took shrapnel to his upper thigh from the impact.

Taking cover in a bunker, medics quickly worked to remove the shrapnel. They cleaned and sealed the wound, and the JTAC immediately returned to duty. Communicating with Air Force aircraft overhead, he called in air strikes on the attacking insurgents, ensuring they would no longer threaten him or his comrades.

"This wasn't the first time these guys attacked us," said Airman Cullen Towle, who is in the fifth month of his six-month deployment. "I just wanted to eliminate the threat once and for all."

The Airman, deployed from Pope Air Force Base, N.C., said that his family was alarmed when they first heard about his injuries. However, he said they understand the risk involved with being in the tactical air control party career field.

Like Captain Wyche, Airman Cullen Towle said the ceremony was about more than just his actions that January day.

"I think it's a good day to recognize some of our fallen brothers," said the Airman, reflecting on those who made the ultimate sacrifice and could not join him for the ceremony.