EOD craftsman receives Bronze Star Medal

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joel Mease
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  A 7th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal staff sergeant was presented the Bronze Star Medal by the 12th Air Force commander February 13 for his actions while deployed to Iraq. 

Staff Sgt. Brian Borrero, EOD noncommissioned officer in charge of operations, received the fourth-highest combat award while working as an EOD team leader charged with disposing of dangerous ordinances and explosive devices. While deployed in the forward-operating location in Iraq, Sergeant Borrero's team participated in 80 combat missions and destroyed more than 36 improvised explosive devices, and 45,000 enemy ordnances. He was cited as starving the enemy of valuable resources while protecting U.S. Army personnel from dangerous explosives. 

The Massachusetts native said his team was constantly put to work on potentially dangerous missions, answering two to three calls a day on some occasions.
"Anytime someone deals with explosives, it can be a dangerous situation," Sergeant Borrero said. "My team did an outstanding job while there, and they made sure that all of us came home safely every day through their actions." 

The sergeant said getting the medal just added to his excitement by being awarded this distinction by Lt. Gen. Norman Seip during his visit to Dyess. 

"It's really an honor for General Seip to take time out of his schedule to recognize the efforts we do everyday in the deployed locations," Sergeant Borrero said. 

To be eligible to receive a Bronze Star Medal, a military member must have performed acts of heroism while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States. 

General Seip, said it was actually his honor to be in the presence of everyday heroes. 

"Since 9 11 there have been a lot of new heroes. One set of these heroes are the Airmen in EOD," General Seip said. "They provide outstanding support against a very cagy enemy, and (Sergeant Borrero) represents some of the very best of these Airmen. I'm honored to be serving in an Air Force with such heroes."