A 1988 graduate of Lake Hamilton High School who originally received a Bronze Star for his actions during a five-day operation in Panjwai Village, Afghanistan, in 2005 will have his medal upgraded to a Silver Star, the school district and the U.S. Air Force announced this week.
Chief Master Sgt. Michael West, a special tactics combat controller, was originally awarded the Bronze Star medal in May 2007 for his actions, but the medal was upgraded due to a Department of Defense-directed review of medals awarded since 9/11, according to the Air Force Special Tactics Facebook page.
The Silver Star was scheduled to be awarded on Friday at Hurlburt Field, Fla. Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, was to officiate at the ceremony.
"The Lake Hamilton School District is proud of the service and honor received by Chief Master Sgt. Michael West," Lake Hamilton School District Superintendent Steve Anderson said in a statement released Friday.
"Our school district has a long history of producing young men and women who serve our nation in the highest capacities possible. We are proud to say that Chief Master Sgt. Michael West is a graduate of Lake Hamilton. Once a Wolf, always a Wolf," Anderson said.
West was honored for his role in securing the safety of 51 Special Forces soldiers and 33 coalition partners during a five-day offensive operation in support of Operation MEDUSA. Over the period of five days and two climatic battles, West delivered more than 24,000 pounds of precision-strike ordnance credited with more than 500 enemy killed in action, the post said.
Over the five-day period, according to the citation accompanying West's Silver Star, he "displayed extraordinary bravery, technical skill, and a complete disregard for his own safety during two climactic battles over five days of near-continuous contact with hostile forces."
"By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Sergeant West has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force," the citation said.
West was one of four Air Force Special Operations Command airmen included among 13 heroes from around the Air Force featured in a "Portraits in Courage" publication in 2007.
Local on 12/16/2017