Vice President visits Bagram, presents medals, speaks with troops

Blackanthem.com, BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, December 20, 2005 14:19

Vice President Dick Cheney awarded medals for valor in combat to two Army aviators and two infantrymen Monday during a visit with the troops here 19 Dec.

Cheney awarded the Bronze Star Medal with valor to Staff Sgt. Jonathan Brooks and Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Holland, both infantrymen assigned to 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry (Airborne), for their actions in combat on May 30.

Chief Warrant Officer Guy Betts, a pilot from Company B, 3rd Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, received the Air Medal with Valor for engaging the enemy during a medical evacuation mission June 1.

Chief Warrant Officer Sean Laycox, a CH-47 Chinook pilot from Company D, 113th Aviation Regiment received the Distinguished Flying Cross for assisting a downed helicopter while under fire during an April 18 mission.

During the visit, Cheney and his wife, Lynne, spent time with Combined Joint Task Force-76 troops. Hundreds of service members gathered to meet the vice president, who offered them holiday greetings and thanked them for their service.

"We’re proud of you, we’re grateful for your service and we’re behind you 100 percent," Cheney told the troops.

Earlier, Cheney was in Kabul to meet with President Hamid Karzai and represent the United States at the initial session of the first democratically elected parliament of Afghanistan in 30 years. His visit to the CJTF-76 troops at Bagram is part of a weeklong trip to meet with leaders of several countries. On Sunday, Cheney met with U.S. troops in Iraq .

While at Bagram, Cheney met with senior Coalition military leaders to discuss progress in the war on terrorism and the current fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan . During his visit, the vice president also oversaw the re-enlistments of several troops.

Source : COMBINED FORCES COMMAND - AFGHANISTAN
COALITION PRESS INFORMATION CENTER
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN