Happy Independence Day!!

I am so grateful for this great country that we live in!!! I am especially grateful for the awesome men and women that serve and fight for our freedoms everyday!! Without them, our country would be way worse off than we are. I love this holiday for the fact that we get to celebrate the birth of the Declaration of Independence that was signed 233 years ago today.

I want brag about my awesome hubby for a minute....
and today is the perfect occasion for it.
I am so grateful for the man that he is and how he bravely and honorably serves our country. I take for granted what he does sometimes and I think we all do that with military folks. I am grateful that there are righteous men and women like him, that love what they do, all while protecting our freedoms and love their country enough to put their life on the line for it and each of us.

A couple weeks ago Courtney was presented with some really cool awards and a medal.......
He was awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal; which is a medal only given to those who have engaged in close combat situations.

The Award

Here's the write up of the situation that he was engaged in. It was while fighting and serving in Iraq during 2003 that earned him this award.

Date: 10 April 2003
-Time: 0200L
-Location: Northeast Kirkuk PROVINCE, IRAQ
-Operation: Viking Hammer, IRAQI FREEDOM

"SSgt Hinson was traveling in a 3 vehicle convoy with ODA 083 10th Special Forces Group east of Kirkuk when he and his team came under intense enemy small arms fire (SAF) while preparing to assault the city of Kirkuk. Immediately after dismounting their vehicles to prepare for the assault his position came under direct fire by RPG's and artillery landing within 25 to 50 meters of his team's location, ultimately destroying their lead vehicle. Under continuous direct fire from the Iraqi forces SSgt Hinson separated from the main body to higher ground in order to direct precision airstrikes against enemy targets. His ability to accurately locate muzzle flashes and enemy fighting positions allowed him to employ over 200,000lbs of munitions resulting in the destruction of over thirty armored vehicles, ten BM21 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, numerous artillery pieces, dozens of Iraqi fighting positions and over 1,000 KIA. In addition, the intensity of the bombardment directed against Iraqi positions resulted in a complete breakdown of Iraqi command and control. This permitted the team's main element to finally maneuver after being pinned down for over one hour which ultimately led to the capture of an Iraqi Battalion Commander and the BDE Artillery Commander."

Lt Col Baker presenting Courtney with his award

right after saluting

He also won NCO (Non Commissioned Officer) of the Quarter for the whole Wing of Ellington Field and he has also been nominated for NCO of the Year!

Then he was also presented with the Air Force Commendation medal for his service as an Instructor for 2 years while at Hurlburt Field, FL.

Here are some pictures of all the folks now at the unit....
the 147th ASOS here at Ellington Field.

making their shop their own.....
they painted the TACP crest on the garage door.

the ROMADS (aka TACP's) of the 147th
(Recon-Observe-Mark-And-DeStroy)

Their unit's call sign....
Punisher.

Studs!!!