USAF TACP received Bronze stars for both Afghanistan and Iraq conflict at the same period ?

While making my researches to continue my article related to the Task Force Viking operations in Northern Iraq, I found the following information :

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal (Army Award) to Technical Sergeant Lance H. Maguire, United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious service as Assistant Fire Support Officer and Tactical Air Control Party Noncommissioned Officer-in-Charge, from 12 February 2003 to 15 August 2003 while deployed to Afghanistan, in direct support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Technical Sergeant Maguire's leadership, selfless service, and commitment to mission accomplishment under the most extreme of circumstances greatly contributed to the success of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. His performance of duty in a combat zone reflects great credit upon him, the Combined/Joint Task Force-180, and the United States Central Command.

Action Date: February 12 - August 15, 2003

Service: Air Force

Rank: Technical Sergeant

Company: 18th Air Support Squadron

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The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Bronze Star Medal (Army Award) to Technical Sergeant Lance H. Maguire, United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious achievement from 10 March 2003 to 1 May 2003 while assigned as the Ground Forward Air Controller for Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 395 (ODA-395), Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-North, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Technical Sergeant Maguire's professionalism and commitment to mission accomplishment under extreme circumstances resulted in unprecedented success across northern Iraq. Technical Sergeant Maguire's performance reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Action Date: March 10 - May 1, 2003

Service: Air Force

Rank: Technical Sergeant

Company: Operational Detachment Alpha 395 (ODA-395)

Battalion: 3d Battalion

Regiment: 3d Special Forces Group (Airborne)

posted here : http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=96466

He was apparently deployed in Afghanistan from 12 February 2003 to 15 August 2003, but also deployed in Iraq while attached to the ODA 395 from 10 March 2003 to 1 May 2003.

How is that possible this USAF TACP received a bronze star for both Iraq and Afghanistan at the same period ?

Would it be possible he served from February to March in Afghanistan, then from March to May in Iraq (with ODA 395) because of the beginning of this new front of the GWOT and finally back to Afghanistan from May to August ?

Hi Pierre,

You are correct; he forward deployed to the other location. As you mentioned, his Iraq dates fall within his overall Afghan deployment timeline.

Forward deploying is not at all uncommon within the AOR -- it is frequently used to supplement additional operations or fill shortfalls within units until sufficient replacement personnel have arrived. When I was deployed, my unit supported several other geographically separated units and we forward deployed quite a few folks from our location to other bases in the region.

TACP's definitely have potential to get around when assigned anywhere in a combat zone, especially if attached to Special Operations units.

thank you for the explanation, I didn't know things went like that ! Very instructive !

Also, based on the information above, I assume the ODA 395 was one of the team that was deployed in Iraq prior to the invasion. If my sources are correct, another is the ODA 076 that was in Iraq since october 2002. I'm not sure, but I also think some elements (if not the whole ODA) of ODA 371 went there early in 2003 (probably around february or early march).

If you guys have informations about that, I'll be interested in it for my article. The same if you have pictures of Task Force Viking in Northern Iraq in early OIF as I would like to illustrate my detailed article with ad-hoc pictures

The other thing to note is the top one is for "SERVICE" while the bottom one is for a single "ACHIEVEMENT" for Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 395 during that same period of service. Tom

airborne1968 wrote:The other thing to note is the top one is for "SERVICE" while the bottom one is for a single "ACHIEVEMENT" for Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 395 during that same period of service. Tom

Tagging onto Tom's clarification - it is unusual in that a Bronze Star is one of the U.S. awards that can be awarded for meritorious service in a combat theater (you would not have necessarily had to be in combat or be exposed to hostile fire) and/or it can be awarded for valor - the Bronze Star with "V" Device - for single or a string of close together actions like Tom says. In a servicemember's personnel file, this is distinguished by "BSM" for the meritorious service, or a "BSM/V" or "BSM w/V" for valor.

The same can be done for each service's commendation medal and achievement medal. Those can also be awarded for service or for valor using the same system.

Higher wartime awards like a Silver Star or Distinguished Service Cross would only be for valor. Those are not awarded for meritorious service.

Mark