Colonel receives Bronze Star during Alabama-Auburn game

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jason Lake
  • Air University Public Affairs
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AFPN) --  An instructor from Maxwell Air Force Base's Air War College was honored at his Alma Mater during the University of Alabama rival football game Nov. 18, against Auburn University Saturday.

Col. Duane Lamb was presented the Bronze Star medal by his former commander, Brig. Gen. Frank Gorenc, who served with him at Balad Air Base, Iraq, earlier this year.

The prestigious medal was pinned on Colonel Lamb's chest as 90,000 fans watched the game' s opening ceremony. After receiving the medal, the crowd sang the national anthem and an Army helicopter formation topped off the pre-game event with a flyover.

"It was an incredible feeling," said Colonel Lamb, who received his commission through the University of Alabama's Reserve Officer Training Corps program 30 years ago. "The fact that I had my whole family there was so cool. I couldn't have asked for anything better."

Colonel Lamb was deployed to Balad from February to August where he served as the 732nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group commander. The former missileer commanded more than 1,400 Airmen -- some of whom were performing missions not typically done by the Air Force.

Most of the missions Colonel Lamb's Airmen performed for the Army and Marine Corps required work outside of a base that had been hit by more than 320 mortar and rocket attacks in six months.

Colonel Lamb said shortly before he arrived to Balad Feb. 22, the Army took back two missions related to convoy security, but several other missions took their place. Colonel Lamb's Airmen helped train the Iraqi army, police and judicial representatives and provide civil engineer support in local communities.

"Our group played a key role in planting the seeds that will help grow a democracy in Iraq," he explained. "It was a very honorable mission, but it was also very dangerous for our Airmen."

The colonel, who traveled more than 6,000 miles in convoys and low-flying helicopters to visit his Airmen who were based in more than 60 locations throughout Iraq, was determined to protect his Airmen at all costs. Colonel Lamb took it upon himself to improve combat skills training in order to better prepare them for the dangerous missions they'd be performing.

"It didn't matter if you worked in civil engineering or if you were a lawyer," he said. "If the mission required combat skills then they got the training. My goal was to not lose any Airmen under my command."

But with just over a week left on his tour, Colonel Lamb lost his first, and only, Airman.
Master Sgt. Brad Clemmons, an explosive ordnance disposal technician, died Aug. 21, while traveling in a convoy outside of Taji, Iraq. The colonel honored his fallen Airman and spoke to his grief-stricken troops at a memorial ceremony a few days later.

"It was a terrible day," he explained. "As a commander it's the one thing that you dread and hope that you never have to do."

Looking back at his experiences, Colonel Lamb stressed the importance of commanders taking care of their Airmen.

"The difficult thing for a leader in a combat zone is realizing that every decision you make could get someone killed," he said. "You must always weigh all the risks, make sure everyone is trained, and never cut corners because people can get seriously injured or killed in combat."

General Gorenc applauded Colonel Lamb's efforts to protect his troops while accomplishing such a challenging mission.

"Colonel Lamb was key to the success of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing," General Gorenc said. "His oversight and advocacy for those Airmen serving directly for the Army and Marine Corps in combat enabled mission success. It was a privilege to serve with him in Iraq."

The colonel from Tuscaloosa, Ala., plans to retire there next year with his wife, said his Airmen deserve all the credit for mission success.

"They should be the ones getting the awards," he said. "They are true American heroes in my book."