Rocky Point Guardsman Honored for Bravery

Six 106th Guardsmen, stationed at the 106th Rescue Wing at Gabreski Airport in Westhampton have been honored with the Bronze Star of Valor — the fourth highest ranking United States military award for heroism. 

The stars were presented during a ceremony on Dec. 6 to Capt. Ronnie Maloney, of Middle Island; Senior Master Sgt. Erik Blom, of Hampton Bays; Technical Sgt. Anthony Yusup of Bloomsburg, PA; Staff Sgt. James Dougherty of Rocky Point; Staff Sgt. Matthew Zimmer of Westhampton; and Staff Sgt. Christopher Petersen of Commack, then a senior Airman. 

According to the 106th, the guardsmen, who were assigned to the 46th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron Detachment of the 651st Air Expeditionary Group, a part of the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing, at Kandahar Air Field at, all received the distinction for actions they took while under fire during a rescue mission on Dec. 10, 2012 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. 

The 106th explained that the Pararescuemen, known collectively as Guardian Angels, flew into a "hot" LZ and were under continuous Taliban fire from AK-47s, machineguns, and rocket-propelled grenades to rescue three Americans and one Afghan soldier who were wounded during an attack.

Despite the danger, the men, the 106th said, worked to provided emergency medical care while also shielding them with their own bodies. 

One of the Americans rescued later died.