Security Forces officer receives Purple Heart

  • Published
  • By Capt. Erick Saks
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  A Liberty Wing Airman was presented a Purple Heart by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz during a ceremony here Jan. 19.

Capt. Gil Wyche, a security forces officer assigned to the 966th Air Expeditionary Squadron, received the medal for injuries sustained during combat engagements in Afghanistan.

"The Purple Heart is not something that you desire to receive," said General Schwartz before a crowd of more than 300 Airmen. "But, it has to be the award that's given with the most respect."

Captain Wyche was assigned to Forward Operating Base Fenty in Jalalabad during an attack in mid-November. The attack involved insurgents armed with small arms and grenades rushing the base perimeter.

During the standoff, the captain received the brunt of a grenade blast's shrapnel. The captain and his team continued to mount their defense, despite the injuries, and were ultimately successful in holding off the assault.

The captain was humbled when he learned that General Schwartz would be presenting his medal.

"I felt honored to have the highest-ranking officer in the Air Force present this to me in a combat zone," said Captain Wyche, who is deployed from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. "It's good for all Defenders for what we do every day, and it's good for my team at FOB Fenty who stood on that line in a firefight for three hours. It's really for all of us."

Captain Wyche said he was aware of the potential risks prior to forward deploying to the small FOB, but the seriousness of the threat he faced did not sink in until he was engaged in combat.

"We knew where we were going and we knew it was a hotbed," Captain Wyche said. "But, nothing can prepare you until the bullets actually start flying, grenades start getting thrown on top of you, and you start firing back. My guys responded very well."

Captain Wyche's home unit, the 48th Security Forces Squadron at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, is very proud of their comrade-in-arms.

"He's an extremely professional and competent officer who was put in an extremely stressful position and he excelled," Lt. Col. Michael Ross, 48th SFS commander, said. "This is an honor that is definitely well-earned."

(Additional information for this story was provided by Senior Airman David Dobrydney, 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs.)