Communications troop endures enemy fire, earns AFCAM

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Brigitte N. Brantley-Sisk
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  In early 2010, an Airman from the 23rd Communications Squadron was woken by an explosion that knocked him out of bed during a deployment to Afghanistan.

Caused by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, the blast initiated events that led Airman 1st Class Lee Benson to earning the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

"I joined the Air Force because I was comfortable with computers and wanted to get out of my hometown and see the world," said Airman Benson, a native of Cocoa, Fla. "I never thought I'd be in the middle of Afghanistan in a combat situation."

Once knocked from his bed, Airman Benson, who was assigned to a U.S. Army unit, donned all his gear and headed to the tactical operations center (TOC) to see what was going on. He was told 15 to 25 enemy troops were at the fence attempting to gain entry onto the installation.

One of the men at the entry control point had been seriously injured and a doctor was sent to help him. The TOC soon received word that assistance was needed to keep the ECP doing its job.

"Word came in that the ECP was running dangerously low on ammunition," said Airman Benson. "I was one of the people sent with ammo refills. On the way to the tower, we had to duck and take cover the entire way since bullets were whizzing by our heads."

The fire between the enemy and ECP patrolmen kept going for a few more minutes, assisted by the extra ammo Airman Benson had provided to help keep the base's defense strong.

"The entire time, I was overwhelmed by different sensations but didn't feel worry or fear," he said. "The adrenaline kept me going and running."

Soon, he heard a buzz he assumed was a mortar about to hit the base.

"As the sound got closer, we realized it wasn't a mortar or rocket attack but instead friendly forces," he said. "The air-to-ground support dropped a flare which led enemy fire to cease. The aircraft came so close to the ground, I could've thrown a rock and hit it."
With the enemy threat taken care of, further fortifications were made around the base and recovery began.

"The aftermath was pretty gruesome and we had to pick up the body parts that were strewn everywhere," Airman Benson said. "Surprisingly, there was only one American injured and it was the soldier who had been in the ECP."

Because of his bravery during the entire attack, he received his medal during a ceremony in December 2010.

"Airman Benson definitely deserved the Air Force Combat Action Medal," said Tech. Sgt. Thomas Vaughn, 23rd CS plans and implementation NCO in charge. "He's a great Airman and positively represented the squadron and 23rd Wing by his admirable actions during the attack."

The AFCAM was first authorized in March 2007 and is awarded to individuals who were under direct and hostile fire while operating in unsecured space or who physically engaged hostile forces with direct and lethal fire.