AAFES associates cited for heroism after rocket attack Published July 30, 2004 DALLAS (AFPN) -- Four Army and Air Force Exchange Service civilians have been recognized for heroism in the line of duty while serving at the Camp Anaconda post exchange in Iraq. The employees are Jack Lauff from AAFES headquarters in Dallas; Barbara Brown from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla; Regina Koenig from Fort Drum, N.Y.; and Irene Panter from Hill AFB, Utah. They were working in the store June 16 when a rocket struck near the exchange causing numerous injuries.A rocket round that exploded directly in front of the main store building was one of three 127 mm rockets that hit the camp. The four assisted the wounded, “without regard to their own safety or personal risk, ”according to the certificate presented by Brig. Gen. James E. Chambers, the 13th Corps Support Command commanding general. After the rocket hit, all four AAFES employees scrambled to administer first-aid and help bring casualties and store customers to safety inside the hardened post exchange building. Three Soldiers were killed and 23 servicemembers and civilians were injured as a result of the attack. According to General Chambers, some of the casualties owe their recovery to the AAFES associates. “The ability to reach and take care of people is a human quality not everyone has,” he said.Currently, there are more than 450 AAFES associates in Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom who volunteer to deploy to places like Afghanistan and Iraq for at least six months. “It is difficult to comprehend the commitment and courage of AAFES volunteers who go to contingency operations,” said AAFES’ Commander Maj. Gen. Kathryn Frost. “Like the troops, deployed AAFES associates live and work under a constant threat in order to deliver the exchange service benefit to dangerous locations throughout the world.” AAFES operates 54 contingency locations for troops in operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.