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Airmen honored at Field of Honor ceremony

  • Published
  • By Adam Luther
  • 440 AW/PA
POPE FIELD, N.C. --  Two of the 10 service members recognized for their service during the 7th annual Field of Honor ceremony at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum, Fayetteville, N.C., May 11 were Pope Field Airmen.
 
Tech. Sgt. George E. Earhart from the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, accompanied by his wife Annie, was honored at the ceremony for his actions while deployed to Afghanistan as a Tactical Air Control Party Craftsman attached to an Army Special Forces team. Earhart rushed through a barrage of enemy fire to provide life saving medical treatment to his team leader. He subsequently controlled a medical evacuation and directed multiple air strikes which ended the enemy attack. For his heroic actions he was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor.

Senior Airman Aubrey T. Hand III for the 440th Security Forces Squadron, accompanied by his wife Jasmine and mother Debbie, was honored during the ceremony. While on a route and culvert clearance mission, an improvised explosive device was detonated under his vehicle. Despite his injuries, Hand provided assistance to others in the vehicle, checked for secondary devices and helped pull the gunner from the vehicle.

The Fayetteville Field of Honor is one of largest and second longest running of its kind in the country. Almost 1,000 flags stand in the field in front of the museum, each flag honors someone who is currently serving, has served, or made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.