Captain receives Bronze Star

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kelley Ogden
  • Public Affairs
Hurlburt Field, FL --  A captain from the 1st Special Operations Support Squadron received a Bronze Star for combat zone achievements during an award ceremony on August 10. 

Capt. Kevin Fischer, an aeromedical physician's assistant, spent close to ten months supporting medical operations in northwestern Iraq. 

"Capt. Kevin Fischer is a 'war-doc' straight out of the "Band of Brothers,"' said Lt. Colonel William West, 1st SOSS commander. "Oddly enough, such uncommon valor is common in the operations support management flight. Like Kevin, the rest of our medical folks are operating in austere environments, deploying forward to the fight, and are accomplishing the mission regardless of the challenges they face. If we could sent him back in time to the late 60s he would fit in well with the plank holders of the 1st Air Commando Wing. I couldn't be more proud of him." 

During his deployment, he provided emergency care for three mass casualty events and five multi-casualty events. 

"It was sad to see Iraqi soldiers mangled and burned beyond recognition from IED blasts or maimed and killed during attacks," said Captain Fischer. "However, I was proud to see Shia, Sunni and Kurdish soldiers, who are not nearly as well trained or equipped as coalition forces, standing bravely united in their fight to defeat a common enemy." 

The captain, who was also the leader of a joint forces team responsible for training 47 Iraqi army physicians, nurses and medics, found the experience to be very rewarding. 

"From radically different world views, my team and our Iraqi counterparts strove to and formed a cohesiveseamlessly integrated team that was capable of meeting any challenge," the captain said. "My team and I were continually challenged, whether it was dealing with overwhelming casualties, providing acute, preventive and public health care to Iraqi soldiers, or merely trying to obtain necessary medical supplies through the emerging Iraqi supply system." 

Captain Fischer, who is no stranger to monumental Air Force achievements, was also awarded the Purple Heart in February by General Michael W. Mosely, Air Force chief of staff.