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Gen. Mike Minihan, Commander of Air Mobility Command, visits the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station June 8, 2024.

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914th reservists receive awards for valor in Iraq

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. James Orbin
  • 914 AW Public Affairs
Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, N.Y. --  Reserve Master Sgt's Luann Van Peursem and Joseph Kinney, both assigned to the 914th Logistics Readiness Squadron Niagara Falls ARS, recently received the Air Force Commendation Medals with Valor for placing themselves in harms way to assist two other 914th Airmen injured during an enemy attack on Sather Air Base, Iraq.

Van Peursem and Kinney are currently deployed and assigned to the 447th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron in Iraq. The mission of the 447th ELRS is coordinating transportation, cargo, and troop support. "Our main job is to hydrate the base with about forty thousand gallons of water per week, but we are doing many other jobs around the base," stated Master Sgt. Van Peursem.

At approximately 5:30 pm on June 20, the building that both Van Peursem and Kinney were located in was hit by indirect fire from a mortar attack. "We are subject to regular attacks, intended to intimidate us inside the defense perimeter," said Van Peursem. Master Sgt. Kinney said this attack was different from the others they had experienced. "I felt the walls rattle and the explosion was louder than usual, and then I heard yelling outside that individuals were wounded." Master Sgt. Van Peursem knowing she had two staff that were working outside ran to the door and heard cries for help, looking through the smoke at ground level to see Tech. Sgt. Tim Juliano. "At that moment Kinney came over to assist and I went over to Tech. Sgt. Steve Paddison, who also was injured. I didn't know if we were going to be hit again, so I dragged Paddison into a bunker and proceeded to administer immediate first aid to him."

Master Sgt. Kinney administered first aid to Juliano after Master Sgt. Van Peursem went to aid Paddison. "I went outside and saw Juliano laid out on the ground. I went to him and assessed the severity of his wounds, and then helped him get into a better position to open his airway," Kinney explained. "Van Peursem came back and I informed her of the wound to Juliano's leg, and I kept pressure on his facial wound, reassuring him that he was okay and everything would be fine."

"We were lucky that we had a base trauma team so we didn't have to take them far for medical care," said Van Peursem.

Both are happy that Tech. Sgt. Paddison and Tech. Sgt. Juliano are recovering well back in the states. "I am so glad that this has a positive outcome," stated Van Peursem. Kinney felt that he didn't do anything heroic. With a humble voice he said, "I did what I had to do, what I was trained to do."

Both seemed to be in the right place at the right time based on experience. Van Peursem works in the health care field for University Cardiovascular Associates. Previously, she was an EMT and Paramedic for Monroe Ambulance in Rochester, New York for twenty years. Kinney works for the Niagara Falls Fire Department as a firefighter at Firehouse #4.

Both sergeants received the Air Force Commendation Medal with Valor for going above and beyond in assisting fellow Airmen in need. This award is given to those individuals that perform an act of sustained heroism and valorous actions as the result of direct contact with the enemy.