Deployed Barksdale medic earns Purple Heart

Published June 17, 2011
By Army Specialist Michael Vanpool

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- Airman 1st Class Bryenna Brooks of Barksdale Air Force Base, La., home of Air Force Global Strike Command, was recently awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in the deployed environment.

Along with the Purple Heart, Brooks also received a Combat Medical Badge, an Air Force Combat Action Medal and a Joint Service Commendation Medal, for her actions June 3.

Airman Brooks was on a convoy with the 59th Quartermaster Company, 142nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, during a resupply mission. She was the secondary medic for the convoy.

Suddently, the mine resistant ambush-protected vehicle Brooks and four soldiers were riding in started taking small arms fire. As the crew prepared for the attack, a rocket-propelled grenade was shot at the MRAP.

The RPG entered the vehicle over Brooks's left shoulder, injuring her and three Soldiers with shrapnel. After the attack, the crew continued down the road to the nearest combat outpost as Brooks aided the other wounded servicemembers.

"We were all very lucky to come out with minor injuries," Airman Brooks said.

Air Force Brig. Gen. Darryl Roberson, the commander of the 455th Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Air Field, made a special trip to the 101st Sustainment Brigade headquarters to award Brooks and the 10 other Airmen.

Roberson pinned the 11 Airmen with Joint Service Commendation Medals. He reminded the group the importance of a Purple Heart, and its role as the oldest award in the United States military.

Brooks walked around after with the most medals hanging off her pocket of the group, a sign from her mission the previous week.

"I feel honored to receive it, but mainly I'm very happy we all survived," Airman Brooks said.

Brooks returns to Barksdale and her job in ambulance services on the flightline this month.