KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Senior Airman Lee Mclean (left) and Staff Sgt. Kenneth Guinn, 966th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight Operating Location-Bravo partnership team, prepare an inert improvised explosive device for practice operations March 13, 2012. Airmen assigned to the partnership team within OL-B train, mentor and subsequently validate Afghan National Army EOD technicians. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Greg C. Biondo)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- Staff Sgt. Kenneth Guinn (far right), 966th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight Operating Location-Bravo partnership team member, leads the team to a training area for practice operations March 13, 2012. Airmen assigned to the partnership team within OL-B train, mentor and subsequently validate Afghan National Army EOD technicians. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Greg C. Biondo)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Fakhr Uddin (left), an Afghan National Army soldier, participates in a debrief after practice counter-IED operations while Staff Sgt. Kenneth Guinn, 966th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight Operating Location-Bravo partnership team member, looks on March 13, 2012. Airmen assigned to the partnership team train, mentor and subsequently validate ANA EOD technicians. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Greg C. Biondo)
by Tech. Sgt. Beth Del Vecchio
U.S. Air Forces Central Public Affairs
3/16/2012 - KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- There is a bloodstain on his boot. He says it's a reminder of a day he probably couldn't forget, even if he tried.
Staff Sgt. Kenneth Guinn, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician deployed here from the 354th Civil Engineer Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, has been nominated for a Bronze Star and Army Commendation medal with valor for his response after a soldier stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device while on a foot patrol.
While assigned to the 966th EOD Flight, Operating Location-Bravo, in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province, Guinn and his team augmented a U.S. Army platoon on foot patrol in search of IEDs. Near the end of the operation, a Soldier on the patrol stepped on a pressure plate and was catapulted into a nearby well. Guinn rushed to the Soldier's aid.
"I jumped in the well and saw that both of his legs were gone and he was in danger of losing his arm," Guinn said. "That's when my brain switched off and my training took over."
Guinn and his EOD team members quickly applied tourniquets to each of the Soldier's thighs and one to his arm. He later found out that the tourniquet he placed on the Soldier's arm saved the limb from amputation.
Tech. Sgt. Diana Guinn, fellow OL-B EOD technician and Kenneth's wife of six years, was at the flight's command and control center when the call came in that a patrol in Panjwai was hit and there was a triple amputee. She said when the call came in, the entire office went silent.
"I knew Kenny's team was on patrol so when the battalion called and told us there was an injury, a triple amputee, during the operation, I was worried," she said. "It was a huge relief when Kenny called and told us that both of our EOD teams were ok."
Diana said that the medical staff that worked to save the Soldier's arm lauded her husband's quick response and combat life saver techniques.
"The medical staff said that he saved that Soldier's life," she said. "I couldn't be more proud of him."
Guinn is not only doing great things in combat situations, he is standing out among his peers on the counter-IED front. In the first month of his deployment, he and his team found and cleared 48 IEDs in the Panjwai district, the most of any EOD team in Regional Command-South.
Because of his experience outside the wire, Guinn was selected to work on a partnership training team with the Afghan National Army. Currently, he trains, mentors and subsequently validates ANA soldiers through a number of operations to safely identify, investigate and render safe unexploded ordnance and IEDs.
Once the ANA soldiers are successfully validated, they can conduct IED-D operations independent of coalition forces, adding one more team to the fight against the enemy's deadliest weapon in Afghanistan.
"I think being able to share real-world experiences with the Afghans is extremely beneficial," Guinn said. "We share all the lessons we have learned the hard way, so they don't have to do the same. Eventually the ANA can take over and run missions on their own."
As Guinn continues to train the ANA soldiers, his past reminds him of the impact his team has on Afghanistan's future.
"I don't think we will be able to successfully withdraw from Afghanistan unless we train the Afghan National Security Forces to follow in our footsteps and independently continue the mission," he said. "I think the fruits of our labor will become evident only after we turn over the counter-IED mission, and if the teams that we validate are not successful with their mission, then we have failed with ours."
Comments
3/29/2012 9:09:36 PM ET So he is only nominated for it while a comptroller was just awarded the medal She didn't do anything wow just wow
Eirik, Charleston
3/22/2012 12:01:42 PM ET I also know SSgt Guinn and I think it's also worth mentioning that this is his third combat deployment to Afghanistan and fourth combat deployment overall. Two BSMs, two Comms with valor and four more comms... I think it's safe to say he has done his part and represented EOD and the Air Force well.
unknown, Texas
3/21/2012 11:15:39 AM ET KR, if you're going to grammar check the story use the right weather.
MO MSGT, MO
3/19/2012 4:39:46 PM ET @Matt, agreed. Unfortunately this is not an isolated incident. Weather its spelling grammar punctuation or incorrect fax it happens all to frequently on the AF site and elsewhere.
KR, Sheppard AFB
3/19/2012 3:04:39 PM ET Great story, but the use of loosing in an AF story is really bothersome.
Matt, Colorado
3/19/2012 10:04:16 AM ET As a former Supervisor and Team Leader of SSgt Guinn, this story does not surprise me. He is a very experienced EOD operator and will continue to save lives on the battlefield as long as the AF lets him. The story is well written, but I think it left out one thing. This is not SSgt Guinn's first Bronze Star or Army Commendation medal. Earning another BSM as a SSgt is worth the mention. Keep up the good work, Kenny, stay safe and bring your team home safe again.
MSgt K, SA TX
3/19/2012 6:48:42 AM ET I agree Rom..If this kid would have been a MSgt or above, there would be no question to just pin it on him. The AF really screws the lower ranks when it comes to medals. Leadership needs to wake up and stop 'mine has got to be bigger than yours' mentality.
Ben , Shaw AFB
3/16/2012 5:25:02 PM ET Couldn't agree with you more Rom. When someone obviously deserves a medal, make it happen FAST!
Lee, Altus
3/16/2012 11:27:53 AM ET There needs to be no nomination. Pin it. The AF system will probably trip on this one for 2 years like they do on other desert decs. Pin it where you win it is B.S..Well done SSgt Guinn
