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| News > Kadena Airmen awarded for deployed contributions |
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Brig. Gen. Matthew Molloy recognizes Lt. Col. Elizabeth Shaw, 18th Medical Group chief nurse; and four Airmen from the 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron: Capt. Emily Newman, flight nurse; Tech. Sgt. Vidal Hill, training flight chief; Staff Sgt. Sean Jalandoni, AE technician; and Staff Sgt. Rigoberto Ruiz, aircrew training technician, for receiving the Lillian Keil Team Award with a commander's coin for each individual on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Oct. 17. The Lillian Keil Team Award recognizes a team making the most significant contributions to the mobility forces' AE mission during contingency operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Christopher Hummel/released)
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Kadena Airmen awarded for deployed contributions
Posted 10/25/2011 Updated 10/25/2011
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by 18th Medical Group
10/25/2011 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- On Sept. 19, the Air Force Association presented the Lillian Keil Team Award to the 451st Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Detachment 1 from Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.
The Lillian Keil Team Award recognizes a team making the most significant contributions to the mobility forces' aeromedical evacuation mission during contingency operations.
The total force team members were deployed from active duty, guard, and reserve units around the globe. Several members of the award-winning team are currently stationed at Kadena.
Brig. Gen. Matt Molloy, 18th Wing commander, recognized the following 451st EAES Det 1 and Team Kadena members with a commander's coin Oct. 17:
Lt. Col. Elizabeth Shaw, 18th Medical Group chief nurse; and from the 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron: Capt. Emily Newman, flight nurse; Tech. Sgt. Vidal Hill, training flight chief; Staff Sgt. Sean Jalandoni, AE technician; and Staff Sgt. Rigoberto Ruiz, aircrew training technician.
Other team members currently assigned to Kadena who were unavailable on Monday are: 18th AES members Capt. Tiffany Williams, flight nurse instructor; Tech. Sgt. Chauncey Scruggs, clinical management flight chief; and Tech. Sgt. Lacey Johnson, Staff Sgt. Kenneth Benavides and Staff Sgt. Charles Catungal, AE technicians.
The 451 EAES stood up the first combined AE and Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility squadron in Afghanistan. The unit started out as a flight in Kandahar which included AE operations, AE and critical care air transport team crews, and liaison teams.
During the planning stage of Operation MOSHTARAK, which included a planned assault on a town called Marjah, senior coalition leaders determined there was a need to increase medical and AE capabilities in the region to support a larger number of potential casualties.
Shaw, EAES commander, was the senior flight nurse charged with standing up the two new AE and CASF units in two geographically separated locations at Kandahar and Camp Bastion. With less than 60 days to be fully operational, the team kicked into high gear, receiving 100 additional personnel and $3.2 million in medical equipment, tents and vehicles.
The medics at Det. 1 at Camp Bastion faced the biggest challenge.
When they arrived, there was a patch of dirt to call home and the unit was literally built from the ground up. Partnering with the British Level III hospital, the team ensured the movement of over 350 coalition patients on 91 missions, including critical patients who might not have otherwise survived.
They also returned 350 Marines back to duty, enabling them to remain within the Area of Responsibility. Their life-saving efforts were key to the success of Operation MOSHTARAK.
The Lillian Keil Award is named in honor of Capt Lillian Kinkell Keil. Her contributions as a pioneer in Air Force flight nursing during World War II and Korea made her one of the most decorated women in U.S. military history. She received 19 medals to include 11 battle stars, four air medals and a presidential citation. |
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