An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Rescue Wing Airman injured in Iraq, receives Purple Heart

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Chance Babin
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  A security forces apprentice with the 920th Rescue Wing here received the Purple Heart Sept. 28, one week after being wounded in action at Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq.

Senior Airman Diane Lopes was presented the military award by Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, commander of Air Force Reserve Command, at her bedside in Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Md. The Air Force reservist was in good condition and on the road to recovery after undergoing minor surgery Sept. 27 for her injuries.

Airman Lopes and her fellow security forces comrades were in Iraq less than a month when she was struck in the right arm and left leg by shrapnel from a mortar attack. At the time of the attack, she was off duty and taking a walk.

"At first I wasn't sure what happened," she said. "I heard it coming and remember turning toward it. I heard a boom and felt a compression wave go right through me.

"Initially, I thought I was on fire and dropped to the ground in case I had to put myself out," she said. "Then I tasted blood in my mouth and within a second it hit me, 'I just got bombed!'"

In less than 90 seconds she was rushed to the medical facility on base. She was later evacuated to Balad Air Base, Iraq, where she had initial surgery.

Airman Lopes was then evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, Sept. 23 and returned to the United States the next day where she was transferred to Walter Reed for continuing care.

"Everywhere I have been people have been coming to see me. People I don't even know. It's so nice to have so many people care," said Airman Lopes.

Brig. Gen. Patrick A. Cord also visited Airman Lopes on Sept. 27. He is the vice commander of 10th Air Force at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas.

Airman Lopes' wing commander, Col. Steve Kirkpatrick, said, "My thoughts and prayers are with (Airman Lopes), and I will make sure she gets the best care possible to pull through this."

Before being mobilized to go to Iraq, Airman Lopes finished training to be a Tampa Bay, Fla., police officer. When mobilization took effect, she became part of a 13-person team from the 920th Security Forces Element on a 179-day tour at Kirkuk AB. They left Patrick AFB Aug. 20.

The security forces troops perform air base ground defense duties while at Kirkuk AB, which is located north of Baghdad. Those duties include perimeter security, flight line security and quick reactionary force measures.

"I'm relieved that (Airman Lopes) prognosis is good," said Colonel Kirkpatrick, "You care about your people; it's like family. I have full confidence the 920th support team will take very good care of her and her family."

Airman Lopes is looking forward to getting through physical therapy and said she has no plans of getting out of the Air Force Reserve.

"(This incident) is not going to keep me from doing this (performing her duty)," she said.

The Purple Heart is a U.S. military decoration awarded in the name of the president to service men and women who have been wounded or killed while serving in the military.

"Unbelievable," is how Airman Lopes described the honor of receiving it. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)