Chief goes out in glory

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Carolyn Viss
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  One Dyess chief master sergeant received a Bronze Star Medal and a Meritorious Service Medal on the brink of his retirement March 27. 

Chief Master Sgt. Douglas "JJ" Fournier, 7th Maintenance Group, is ending his 30-year career April 1, following an eight-month deployment that ended in December. 

"I'm accepting these medals in honor of the combat Airmen I served with in (the area of responsibility)," Chief Fournier said. "From north to south and east to west, the coalition forces across the AOR have been working so hard. You have no idea how tough it is, but I saw it first hand, and this medal is really because of their work." 

His roles in Camp Bucca, Iraq, and the AOR included traveling on more than 224 convoy missions, working with 900 security forces members, and taking care of 1,400 troops as the chief enlisted manager, putting himself in extreme danger from hostile bombing, small arms and mortar attacks. He ensured the humane treatment of 9,000 detainees and oversaw training for more than 2,000 Iraqi corrections officers as well as supporting a unit that was under repeated improvised explosive device attacks that wounded six Airmen and Soldiers. 

"I never felt as though I was in danger - I was so busy," Chief Fournier said. "It was a great mission. I really enjoyed it. In fact, it was supposed to be a four-month deployment, but I extended it because I felt I couldn't get enough done in so short a time." 

Colonel Robert McCormick, 7th Bomb Wing vice commander, who presented the Bronze Star, said Chief Fournier is by nature a "modest guy" who made the Air Force a much better place, not only by what he did in the AOR but also throughout his entire career. 

Chief Fournier has known Colonel McCormick and Col. Richard Kosanke, 7th MXG commander, who presented him with the MSM, since both were captains. 

"Chief Fournier is so dedicated to the Air Force and to the needs of Airmen," Colonel McCormick said. "He was propagating the 'Airman culture' long before it was known as such. He leaves big shoes to fill." 

Colonel McCormick went on to say that Chief Fournier's work in forward-operating locations was beyond exemplary. 

"I remember in 2002, when the B-1 had its first large-scale deployment," Colonel McCormick said. "He coordinated and worked with coalition representatives and weapons stations including the Brits for use of facilities and runway space. I'll never forget the first day of Operation Anaconda, looking out on the flightline and seeing all those B-1s lined up - a sight that wouldn't have been possible without Chief Fournier. He pulled it all off." 

"I wanted to leave the Air Force with a 'last hurrah,' and being deployed would have been enough," Chief Fournier said. "To get two medals on top of that is just an added blessing. This is a great way to end my 30-year career."