Air Force sergeant wins Bronze Star
He protected American troops in Iraq from roadside bombs, other dangers
By THOMAS MICHALSKI
| Article published on Friday, March 30, 2007 |
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| Staff Sgt. Edward B. Albeitz |
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PINELLAS PARK – A local Air Force sergeant who disarms bombs for a living was awarded the Bronze Star, one of the nation’s highest awards for heroism, for his actions while serving in Iraq that resulted in saving countless lives.
Staff Sgt. Edward B. Albeitz, a 1995 graduate of Pinellas Park High School and eight-year Air Force veteran, was cited for “exceptionally meritorious conduct” as an explosive ordinance disposal craftsman while stationed with the 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron and Air Expeditionary Group and 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Kirkuk Regional Air Base in Iraq.
When awarded for bravery, the Bronze Star is the fourth-highest combat award of the U.S. Armed Forces and the ninth highest military award in the order of precedence of U.S. military decorations.
He is the second member of his family to receive the commendation. His grandfather, Wilbur Albeitz of Zephyrhills, received the coveted award for his actions during World War II.
“We are very proud of him and his accomplishment,” said Linda Albeitz, his mother. “His job is dangerous because he disarms bombs.”
His father, Bruce, never saw military service because of a kidney removal early in life.
Albeitz, a career Air Force veteran, is married to his college sweetheart, Amber. He is the father of two children, Joel, 3, and Jadah, 10 months. Jadah was born while Albeitz was stationed in Iraq until last August.
Albeitz is now stationed in Turkey and is expected to return stateside in the near future.
His mother said he has worked to ensure the safety of President George Bush and his wife, Laura, and with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who has visited Baghdad. She could not provide details of her son’s activities due to security reasons.
As an explosive team leader at forward operating basis in Iraq, his job was critical to the successful implementation of the U.S. Central Command’s counter insurgent operations. He helped execute over one-third of the Multi National Division’s mission workload that ensured the safety of more than 16,000 coalition forces, civilian contractors and local residents.
During his time in Iraq he was involved in more than 110 combat missions under the threat of insurgent attacks. His job basically was to locate and disarm or destroy unexploded bombs within a vast 42,000 square kilometer area.
It was while supporting the 1st Brigade Combat Team that he and others destroyed 55 bombs that were strategically placed along critical supply routes. Countless American lives were saved.
While conducting other operations in the volatile city of Hawija, Albeitz led a number of other dangerous missions. Once his team was called to destroy a bomb placed behind a route clearance team that was designed to kill Americans.
On another mission while drawing enemy fire he and his team successfully disarmed a bomb that was blocking a logistical convoy.
Albeitz’s ability was tested again in the city of Sulayman Bak. Four pressure switch-activated bombs were hidden within a six block area. Their target was Iraqi security and government buildings. Albeitz and his team located each explosive and disarmed them, thus ensuring the safety of American and Iraqi forces.
During his stint in Iraq Albeitz contributed to the recovery and destruction of more than 40,000 explosives, most of them roadside bombs that account for the majority of American military injuries and deaths.
“At one point,” Mrs. Albeitz said, “his group was fired upon. One man lost an arm and the other a leg.”
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Article published on Friday, March 30, 2007
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