Network Warrior Awarded Bronze Star Published May 20, 2008 By Staff Sgt. Christine Siltala 68th Information Operations Squadron BROOKS CITY-BASE, Texas -- A member of the 67th Network Warfare Wing was awarded the Bronze Star May 14 in a ceremony held at Hanger 9 on Brooks City-Base, San Antonio. Staff Sgt. Dennis Davis was awarded the nation's ninth highest military decoration by Colonel Joseph Pridotkas, 67th Network Warfare Wing commander, for his outstanding dedication to duty during combat operations while he was on a year-long tour in Iraq. Humbled by the ceremony, Sergeant Davis told how his days were made easier by his faith in God and countless morale calls to his fiancée and son. He accepted the award in his fathers loving memory and said the thoughts of them gave him the strength to carry on and helped bring him home safe. While detailed to a Weapons Inspection Team outside Fallujah, he personally spent over 550 hours outside the wire, more than any other WIT Team combined. As a member of the esteemed WIT Team 9 , "close-nit-WIT Team 9" as they were affectionately known, his duties consisted of assisting Explosive Ordinance Disposal team members in identifying and analyzing improvised explosive devices and other ordinance. Deemed as the "key to continuity," he led his team and command to overwhelming success. On one major mission, Sergeant Davis worked on a vehicle born bevice factory, taken over by coalition forces, where 20,000 pounds of weapons were found. Another mission involved working on six major VBD sites where hundreds of Iraqi citizens were taken out of harm' s way by finding and disposing of the devices before they could be detonated. It all became real February 13, 2007, when my vehicle was attacked and sustained minimal damage by an IED, Seargent Davis explained. Despite the sometimes hostile tensions, Sergeant Davis aided and befriended many Iraqis during his tour by participating in off-duty, humanitarian efforts handing out toys and candy. By June the local populous changed from a country of unrest to a country of reform, the sergeant said. With the help of American forces, Iraqi police and local militias had taken back the streets molding them back into the neighborhoods they once were before where children play and neighbors walk without fear, Sergeant Davis added. "The Iraqis have a long road ahead of them and they need us," said Sergeant Davis. "But overall, they are just like us."