Ellsworth's Airmen's call features Airman's Medal presentation

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Abigail Klein
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  During Ellsworth's Airmen's call Feb. 8, Lt. Gen. Norman Seip, 12th Air Force and Air Forces Southern commander, spoke to the Airmen of the 28th Bomb Wing and presented the Airman's Medal to a 28th Logistics Readiness Squadron servicemember.
Col. Scott Vander Hamm, 28th Bomb Wing commander, attributed the caliber of today's Airmen to their commitment to Air Force core values before introducing the 12th Air Force commander. General Seip formally presented Maj. Trace Steyaert with the Airman's Medal for his actions June 10, 2007, which resulted in rescuing a swimmer from a potentially lethal situation.

"This award speaks volumes about the Air Force. Major Steyaert would tell you that he is just an ordinary Airman who stepped up in an extraordinary time to do something to make a difference," General Seip said. "(Those) of us here today are really just ordinary Airmen who are very confident about what we do, who are very proud of who we are. We don't do it with a lot of bravado; we do it with quiet confidence, and when called upon to do something extraordinary, we're the ones who step forward to do it."

The actions that warranted Major Steyaert's receipt of the Airman's Medal took place during his deployment to Monrovia, Liberia, while assigned to the Department of the Army Operations, Readiness and Mobilization unit January to July 2007.

At Thinker's Beach, near Monrovia, a swimmer fell victim to a rip tide and began to lose the battle as he struggled to swim back to shore. Major Steyaert was the only person in the crowd on the beach who selflessly dove into the rough waters to swim the 75 yards to rescue the swimmer.

"The act was indicative of the willingness of our Airmen to risk their own lives for others," Colonel Vander Hamm said. "We voluntarily sign up for service and we agree to embody the Air Force core values. One of the things that set Airmen apart is that we are willing to put everything - our very lives - in front of our own selfish desires."

When the mission demands it, Ellsworth servicemembers respond with "'Send me; send America's Airmen, send the Airmen of Ellsworth Air Force Base,'" General Seip said. "Your service does not go unnoticed - what you do counts, and what you do makes a difference out there."