War on Terror Heroes - Pennsylvania (Armed Forces Day)

US Dept of Defense ^ | May 18, 2007 | DoD

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PENNSYLVANIA Army Special Forces Sgt. 1st Class B. Charles Good Pennsylvania Silver Star recipient

Army Special Forces Sgt. 1st Class B. Charles Good

Then-Staff Sgt. Good and his team were on a mission on Oct. 31, 2003, to halt foreign fighters who were infiltrating Iraq from Syria. Their convoy drove into the enemy-friendly town of Sadah when one of the vehicles was hit by a RPG. Eight members of the team went after the enemy fighters, while Good and two others provided security. A soldier was hit, and Good provided cover fire while the injured soldier was loaded into the vehicle. Good’s vehicle was disabled, but he negotiated with an Iraqi man in a run-down Toyota to drive them to the camp. After dropping off the wounded soldier, Good returned to the fight along with other soldiers to assist those still trapped in the village. Good was awarded the Silver Star Medal on Dec. 15, 2004. Navy Lieutenant Brian Skubin Flourtown, PA Bronze Star recipient

Navy Lt. Brian Skubin

As an Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer on a six month deployment to Al Anbar Province in Iraq, Lt. Brian Skubin played an essential role in disabling Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s) that have been so deadly to Coalition forces. Skubin and his team were assigned to a support role with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), which performed various missions including providing security during Iraq’s first elections. Lt. Skubin and his team completed 139 missions, 40 while under threat of insurgent attacks. By disabling numerous IED’s, Lt. Skubin and his team helped 31st MEU to complete their mission and save numerous American and Iraqi lives.

For his actions, Lt. Skubin received the Bronze Star on October 19th, 2006. Read the story.

Army Cpl. Clinton A. Warrick Reading, PA Defense Superior Service Medal recipient

Army Col. Michael E. Stout

There’s an old saying that a small idea is the birthplace of great accomplishments. For Col. Stout, who was deployed to Afghanistan from September 2002 to April 2003, that small idea was the realization that rebuilding the war-torn country would require a joint effort by the military, civilians, members of the community, and local organizations. His idea has grown into one of the central components of the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan: the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), deployed throughout the host nation to rebuild and revitalize infrastructure and institutions.

In Afghanistan, Stout met with military commanders, civilian leaders, U.S. interagency members, and Afghan Ministry officials – and slowly his recommendations crystallized. He created the first three PRTs – in Gardez, Bamyan, and Kunduz – by conducting a thorough analysis of the provinces and towns, and then securing the support and resources necessary to make a tangible impact. The PRTs in those three areas are still carrying out their work – and also offering an opportunity for other nations to help the Afghans. Today, the Bamyan PRT is led by New Zealand, and the Kunduz PRT is led by Germany, with support from Belgium, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Romania, and Switzerland.

Stout’s initial model played a key role in shaping both the Department of Defense’s and U.S. Central Command’s approaches to conducting future reconstruction operations. For his leadership and contributions in Afghanistan, Stout was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal on Dec. 13, 2006.

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For all that you do, God bless you!