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.

Homestead EOD reservist awarded Bronze Star

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Erik Hofmeyer
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  Earlier this summer an explosive ordnance disposal journeyman in the 482nd Civil Engineer Squadron here received the Bronze Star for heroism.

Tech. Sgt. Timothy Haffner completed a six-month deployment to Iraq in June where he led a team of three EOD technicians. Embedded with U.S. Army units, they diffused improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordnance from roadways, cleared weapon caches and performed post-blast analysis missions.

"It was like coming home," said Sergeant Haffner, who served in the Army and Army National Guard for 11 years before joining the Air Force Reserve six years ago.

His experience served him well during his 140-plus combat missions and more than 3,000 hours "outside the wire." Each of his team's missions saved the lives of U.S., coalition and Iraqi servicemembers and civilians.

One mission was particularly remarkable.

Each member of his team packed more than 100 pounds of supplies, tools and explosives before setting out on a 4-km foot patrol. They went with Soldiers from the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division unit and a platoon of Iraqi Army soldiers.

It was a search and attack mission to clear suspected anti-Iraqi forces supply lines, known as "rat lines," and to destroy enemy weapons caches along the Euphrates River.

Insurgents use rivers and canals to smuggle explosives and small arms into Baghdad, he said. They leave caches in the reeds and marshes along the river banks.

Sergeant Haffner and his patrol scanned the passing terrain for threats. They avoided main thoroughfares by traveling back routes through farmland and countryside on their way to the Euphrates River.

Halfway through the mission, a blue vehicle appeared about 200 meters away and assailants opened fire on the patrol.

The patrol returned fire while tactically moving across open farmland toward cover. Sergeant Haffner's team and the Iraqi soldiers kept moving and cleared a house for a rally point and provided security over-watch. Ultimately, the insurgents fled after being wounded by gunfire. They were apprehended at the nearest checkpoint soon after the attack.

"It was intense, and the adrenaline was pumping," Sergeant Haffner said. "There's little to rely upon but your training."

The Americans and Iraqi pressed on searching for weapons caches along the smuggling route on the river. They found and destroyed 150 pounds of enemy explosives, including several directional blast charges intended to target coalition force vehicles.

This mission was typical of the counter-insurgency methods used by Sergeant Haffner and his fellow Airmen in the Global War on Terrorism. They did more than ride on joint EOD rapid response vehicle and respond to calls for EOD support. Every day they served side-by-side with U.S. troops and Iraqis in the field.

Sergeant Haffner said this service is indicative of the Air Force's EOD role in Iraq. Air Force technicians represent 18 percent of the force but disarm 45 percent of the improvised explosive devices and 66 percent of the unexploded ordnance.

"Embedding with the Army instead of responding to calls saves a lot of precious time," he said. "EOD personnel are not strictly focusing on how an explosive is built or fused or how to render a device safe, but looking at the larger picture in overall military campaign strategy."

Sergeant Haffner received his Bronze Star in a formal presentation in Iraq in June, but his fellow Airmen at Homestead ARB will recognize him during their September unit training assembly. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)