CSAF honors Lakenheath Airmen

  • Published
  • By Capt. James Nichols
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England (AFNS) --  Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz recognized five 48th Fighter Wing Airmen during a medal ceremony here Feb. 10 for distinguishing themselves through acts of courage.

Before family and friends gathered in the Strike Eagle Complex, Schwartz presented Airman's Medals to Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Fife and Staff Sgt. Trevor Brewer, and Air Force Commendation Medals to Senior Airman Ashley Cunningham, Senior Airman Charles Anderson-Goodman, and Airman 1st Class Reginald Golliday.

The general said many Airmen sometimes wonder how they will respond when a crisis strikes.

"The wonderful thing about the Airmen who are receiving awards today is that when that test came for them, they delivered," Schwartz said.
Currently with the 56th Helicopter Maintenance Unit, Fife helped save over 2,100 Afghan people trapped by the flooding Kabul River in July 2010. During rescue operations, Fife saved two Afghan children by jumping into the river from a helicopter to pull them to safety.

Brewer, Cunningham, Anderson-Goodman and Golliday are members of the 48th Security Forces Squadron. All four were on an Air Force bus at Frankfurt International Airport on March 2, 2011, when a man entered the vehicle and began firing a handgun at the Airmen on board.

Despite being unarmed, Brewer helped prevent further loss of life and apprehend the attacker by chasing him into the airport, while Cunningham, Anderson-Goodman and Golliday provided emergency medical care to those wounded by the assailant.
Schwartz thanked the medal recipients for their dedication and their family members for their support of the Airmen, saying how honored he was to take part in the ceremony.
"Sincerely, to the awards recipients, you displayed a remarkable presence of mind and remarkable commitment to others," Schwartz said. "I think it is an extraordinarily special moment when we have the opportunity to honor our Air Force members for delivering at the right moment and the most demanding time."

The recipients themselves expressed their gratitude in return.

"Being recognized by the chief of staff was a great feeling," said Anderson-Goodman.

"We weren't looking for recognition, but for him to come down and give us this award was a great feeling."

Golliday said he saw the medals as a way of commemorating his fellow comrades who did not survive the Frankfurt incident.

"This day was important to me because I was able to accept this award, not for myself, but for [the Airmen who lost their lives during the shooting]," Golliday said. "To receive the award from the chief of staff is the greatest honor."