Communications Airman earns Purple Heart

Published Jan. 7, 2011
By Senior Airman Rachelle Elsea
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A Team Tyndall Airman was recently awarded the Purple Heart Medal after a deployment to Afghanistan.

Senior Airman Darius Webb, 325th Communications Squadron radio frequency transmission systems technician, was tasked with his first deployment in early 2010. He would be working alongside the Army, while tasked with a new mission.

"It was a small post that consisted of about 120 to 140 Army personnel and I was the lone Air Force personnel," said Airman Webb. "I was sent there as a Secret Internet Protocol Router Network /Non-classified Internet Protocol Router Network access point terminal operator and maintainer, which basically means I was the person responsible for keeping up the main piece of equipment used for all types of communication including phone, internet, and secure communications."

In addition to my responsibilities as SNAP operator I also helped with all other types of communication issues that arose including some networking, fixing computers, printers, running cable, loading computer security and much more, he added. I was also alternate radio telephone operator, which meant I did a lot of talking to the troops outside the wire whenever there were missions.

Small arms and mortar round explosions were a daily occurrence in the dangerous region of Afghanistan where Airman Webb and his Army counterparts were assigned and they had become accustomed to the danger. But, Oct. 25 was not a typical day.

"We were set to receive a supply convoy from another nearby post," said Airman Webb. "I was helping with the unloading of the supply trucks on my Command Out Post, when the escorts for the supply convoy were attacked outside of my COP with small arms fire," said Airman Webb. "We usually received small arms fire pretty regularly where I was at and since it was outside of the COP, everyone pretty much went about their duties as usual. An officer from the unit that was replacing the one I was embedded with, asked me to go grab a small vehicle to help move some stuff around."

Airman Webb and a soldier proceeded to walk toward the chow hall tent because he had seen a vehicle parked outside of it earlier. As they neared the chow hall, the soldier stopped in the chow hall tent while Airman Webb continued to walk toward the gator parked right next to it.

"Then, I heard a loud boom directly in front of me and I felt a rush of air as a bunch of debris hit me from a mortar, knocking me backwards into the chow hall," said Airman Webb. "Corporal Hernandez rushed over and helped me up and took me over the medic building that's when I noticed blood rushing from the top of my head onto my face and I was pretty disoriented. Two medics then proceeded to take me out the back door to a trauma bay a few feet away."

As they neared the back door another mortar landed outside the door, so they decided to exit through front door instead. After they were a few feet out the front door, another mortar landed some feet behind them knocking Airman Webb and two medics to the ground.

"The medics and I crawled under the building we were closest to as more mortars landed around us," said Airman Webb. "That's when I noticed sharp pains in my legs and left arm and belly. After some time the mortars stopped and I heard an Army sergeant call my name asking if I was able to crawl from under the building towards him."

Airman Webb managed to escape from under the building. Army personnel helped him onto a litter and assessed his wounds.

"A few minutes later, a helicopter came and myself and fa ew other people that were injured were flown to Forward Operating Base and were treated," said Airman Webb. "I went hospital to hospital for the next few days till I arrived in Germany, where I stayed for a few more days, and then eventually made my way home."

Airman Webb was presented the Purple Heart Medal by Brigadier Gen. Jack Briggs, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander.

"The Airman who read my citation, before I was presented the medal was Master Sgt. Robert Edwards, who happened to be my First Term Airman Center instructor when I first got to Tyndall," said Airman Webb. "I was presented the medal while at Bagram Airfield in the hospital just moments before I was put on a plane to be transferred to a German hospital."

Although his deployment came to a fast halt, Airman Webb still admits to enjoying his time in Afghanistan.

"I enjoyed working with and getting to know the Army personnel," said Airman Webb. "They do things a little different from the way I was used to being in the Air Force, but overall it was a good experience and I learned a lot. Working with them, I dispelled some of the misconceptions about the Air Force and learned a lot about the way the Army operates. I was also able to meet a lot of good people and made some lifelong friends."

Airman Webb recently returned to complete his mission as part of Team Tyndall and continues his outstanding work here.

"Airman Webb is an exemplary Airman who's always going above and beyond to guarantee our radio transmission systems are ready to support mission operations for the wing and our tenants," said Lt. Col. Clorinda Trujillo, 325th CS commander. "He's already back at work making it happen."

Airman Webb said he has decided to take this experience and use it to his advantage.

"My future goals are to use the things I learned over there and apply them to my job here at Tyndall," said Airman Webb. "I found out while over there that I made staff sergeant, so I hope to apply the lessons I learned while in Afghanistan to being a good supervisor and better Airman in general. I also plan on continuing my education and earning my Community College of the Air Force degree soon."