Edwards Airman receives Bronze Star Medal

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class William O'Brien
  • 95th Air Base Wing public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  An Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician received a Bronze Star Medal for his performance during a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Brian Boisselle, Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician, received the award from Col. Nancy Flores, 95th Air Base Wing vice commander, during a ceremony at the 95th Civil Engineer and Transportation Directorate Conference Room Jan. 27. 

Sergeant Boisselle also received the Combat Action Medal for his performance in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"I am honored to serve with Sergeant Boisselle," said Colonel Flores. "I would like to thank him and his family for what he does both here and while deployed."

Sergeant Boisselle was an EOD team leader at Logistics Support Area Anaconda and Forward Operating Base Paliwoda, Iraq. His experience and confidence proved crucial while leading two EOD operators during the execution of 126 combat missions under the threat of insurgent attacks to exploit, render safe, recover, and destroy improvised explosive devices, unexploded ordnance and weapons caches, and to execute post blast analysis within a 31,000 square kilometer area.

"It feels good to receive medals," Sergeant Boisselle said. "But I don't do this job for recognition, I do this because I enjoy it. I don't ever expect any recognition for it. To be put up for something like this and win is an honor and it means people recognize the good job you're doing. That reflects on the great team I worked with while I was over there."

Sergeant Boisselle's ability to adapt to changing threats yielded the safe reduction of 32 IEDs.  Engaging those IEDs led to complete route access for Coalition Forces to perform three named operations. He confronted four IEDs within a 200-meter stretch. Sergeant Boisselle led his team in the rendering safe of all four IEDs, saving crucial infrastructure. Additionally, he was able to attain all four functioning firing mechanisms for intelligence exploitation.

"I would like to thank my wife for taking care of our family while I'm deployed," he said. "I would also like to thank everyone from CE who supports us while we're over there by sending cards and gifts; it means a lot. I would like to thank Master Sgt. David Larriva, EOD chief. I'm the EOD technician I am because he's the EOD technician that he is."