Maintenance Chief awarded the Bronze Star

  • Published
  • By SSgt Russ Jackson
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  Chief Master Sgt. John Frazier, 62nd Maintenance Group superintendent was presented a Bronze Star medal during a small award ceremony here Dec. 3.

Frazier was deployed to Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan from April through October of 2014 as the group level maintenance chief. According to his citation, he melded a group of more than 1,300 total force Airmen from across six rotations into a cohesive aircraft and munitions maintenance team.

"It was the first time I've had the chance to deploy with the active duty, Reserve, Guard and civilian side all in a maintenance team," Frazier said. "It was really interesting bridging those organizational gaps and we found a way to make it [work] every time."

Squadron commanders, senior enlisted leaders, maintenance Airmen, civilians and family members joined together during the ceremony to recognize Frazier's accomplishments and applaud his reception of the medal.

This decoration authorized by Executive Order No. 9419 on February 4, 1944, is awarded to a person in any branch of the military service who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the United States on or after December 7, 1941, shall have distinguished himself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy.

Col. Craig Gaddis, 62nd MXG commander, opened the ceremony with a few words about Frazier and the significance of earning the distinguished decoration.

"We would hear about the indirect fire coming into Bagram and I knew that John was directly involved, that he was the right person to be there and knew exactly what to do to take care of the troops and keep the mission going," Gaddis stated. "Beyond that, you have to do spectacular work as a leader and he did that as well and that's why his group commander, his wing commander and his [Air Forces Central Command] commander endorsed him and approved this medal."

During his deployment, Frazier served as a member of the wing's Crisis Action Team during 30 enemy indirect fire attacks and provided critical post attack reconnaissance information leading to the resumption of operations with an average of 20 minutes at the Department of Defense's busiest air combat and logistics hub.

Frazier provided guidance that generated four alert missions providing 25,000 pounds of supplies and 30 security personnel for relief efforts after an extreme mudslide that devastated the Abi Barik village.

Finally, Frazier choreographed the complex repairs of a battle damaged A-10 Warthog aircraft, returning it to the close air support fight in less than 72 hours as well as a battle damaged C-17 Globemaster III aircraft that was put back into the strategic airlift channels 14 days ahead of schedule.

Gaddis pinned the Bronze Star onto Frazier's uniform as the room erupted into applause. Frazier smiled and thanked everyone for attending.

"The Bronze Star is one of the higher individual awards you can get in our military. It's just below our combat heroism awards," Gaddis said. "Typically in the Air Force, they are very tough to get."