EOD Airman receives Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal with Valor

Published Aug. 10, 2011
By Diane Betzler
Staff writer

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- After a 750-pound bomb exploded in a compound in war-torn Afghanistan, an Edwards Airman used his bare hands to dig through piles of rubble in a daring attempt to save the lives of two children who were trapped under debris.

Members of Team Edwards gathered Aug. 3, 2011, to watch as Senior Airman Dustin S. Hamell, 95th Civil Engineering Explosive Ordnance Disposal journeyman, was awarded a Purple Heart by Col. Gregory Schwab, 95th Air Base Wing commander.

Hamell received a hero's reception when his teammates from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Branch, 95th Civil Engineer Division, gathered in the 95th CE conference room to watch him receive the award.

"This is a historic event," Schwab said. "The Purple Heart is a tremendous recognition of the event that you were a part of and it's also a recognition of the sacrifices our forces have been making ever since the Revolutionary War."

In addition to being decorated by the Air Force, Hamell was also awarded an Army Commendation Medal with Valor for acts he accomplished while injured.

The event that led to the medals took place at a combat outpost in Afghanistan.

According to an official report read by 1st. Lt. Joseph Sysko, 95th ABW executive officer, Hamell had been deployed to a combat outpost and was there when a suicide bomber drove a vehicle through the razor wire that secured the road in front of the compound.

The bomber then drove into the alley between the outpost and the adjacent compound where he detonated a 750-pound vehicle borne improvised explosive device.

Hamell was about 30 feet from where the device detonated and was buried in rubble up to his waist. After freeing himself from the rubble, Hamell grabbed his weapon and positioned himself outside to provide security against a secondary attack.

Once a security force was in place Hamell was asked to help locate two local children who were buried in the compound next to the outpost.

After 30 minutes of digging with his bare hands, Hamell uncovered a young girl and delivered her to a medic for much needed medical care. He then went back to the compound while under enemy small arms fire, to look for a second child. After about an hour of digging through that rubble, he located the second child whom he uncovered and carried to a medic, who assessed the child had died.

Hamell himself was suffering from a concussion that he sustained during the bombing and ended up having to be medevaced to main base, but not before collecting evidence and conducting a post-blast analysis by taking pictures of the area and collecting multiple pieces of fragmentation.

Schwab told Hamell it was an honor and a privilege to be there to present the award to him.

"I just want you to know on behalf of all of your Airmen and Air Force family - how proud we are of you."

Master Sgt. Denny Hart, EOD, read the citation.

"This is to certify that the President of the United States of America authorized by order of Gen. George Washington, Aug. 2, 1782, has awarded the Purple Heart to Senior Airman Dustin S. Hamell for wounds received in action 2 July 2010."

Lt. Gen. Gilmary M. Hostage III, U.S. Air Force Central Command commander, signed the citation.

Hamell thanked those attending the award ceremony for their support and said he feels fortunate to be here.

When asked later what was going through his mind at the time he was digging through the rubble to rescue the children while under enemy fire, Hamell said he doesn't remember. The concussion he suffered took away any recall of the incident.

"I feel really proud of the medals I received."

Hamell added that he really can't describe his feelings about all the recognition.

What the Airman does know for sure though, is that he wouldn't hesitate to risk his life again to save another. "That's just the way I was raised," he said.