SF NCOs earn Purple Heart, Bronze Stars

  • Published
  • By SrA. Kelly Galloway
  • 439th AW Public Affairs
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. --  Two Westover reservists from the 439th Security Forces Squadron received commendations during the Change of Command Ceremony Aug. 6 for actions while deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
MSgt. Arjel Falcon was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for exceptionally meritorious service while serving as an assistant flight chief. He responded to twenty rocket attacks, one of which he was credited with performing life-saving first aid by applying a tourniquet and packing a deep abdominal wound.

SMSgt. Christopher Kellam was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal for exceptionally meritorious service while serving as a superintendent of operations. During the unit's support of combat operations in Afghanistan, he led the field response with only 60 percent of his unit's manpower being filled, to 20 rocket attacks. SMSgt. Kellam's unit ultimately performed four life-saving actions while deployed.