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NEWS | Aug. 4, 2008

Newly promoted chief receives triple honors

By Sean Bowlin Staff Writer

A senior non-commissioned officer with the Air Education and Training Command's Civil Engineer Directorate became a triple honoree Aug. 1 when he received a medal for meritorious service, another medal for coming under hostile fire in Iraq and a promotion to chief master sergeant. 

Chief Master Sgt. Joseph May Jr., AETC's explosive ordnance disposal functional manager, was awarded a Bronze Star Medal - his second - for "exceptionally meritorious service" while supporting the U. S. Army's 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Baghdad, Iraq, during a deployment that lasted from late November 2007 to mid-May 2008. 

"Sergeant May personally led EOD personnel during combat operations supporting (the division's) 1-187 Infantry Battalion," read part of the citation for the medal. "Often under hostile fire, Sergeant May led his Airmen from the front during 25 combat missions, successfully disarming and destroying 29 improvised explosive devices and disposing of over 2,000 ordnance items. His actions severely disrupted enemy supply chains and contributed to gaining irreversible momentum in defeating the improvised explosive device network." 

Chief May was also awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal for coming under direct enemy fire at least six times during a tour in Iraq, which lasted from Jan. 18 to June 10, 2005, while serving as the explosive ordnance disposal flight chief of the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron.
 
Additionally, Col. Mark Correll, AETC civil engineer, who said "it is a real treat to be able to promote someone to the highest tier of our enlisted ranks," read the order promoting Chief May to his present rank as May's sons Joseph and James "tagged on" the stripes. 

After his stripes were tagged, the ceremony ended and other Air Force EOD personnel came forward to congratulate Chief May. 

Staff Sgt. Christopher Slaydon, a full-time patient at nearby Brooke Army Medical Center for severe wounds suffered in Iraq and who worked in EOD with Chief May, lauded him for his performance.
 
"He stands behind his men and he's forward-thinking at a time when EOD is changing with the mission that we have," Sergeant Slaydon said. "Now, he's getting the rank that comes with his position and it's well-deserved." 

Senior Airman Daniel Acosta, another full-time patient at BAMC who is assisting Chief May during his recovery from wounds, said Chief May's awards and promotion were merited.
 
"He's an excellent leader," Airman Acosta said. "He can get down to the lower levels and talk to the troops. And I like the fact that he's deployed several times - that's why he can relate to the guys in EOD." 

Chief May, who said EOD technicians make up one percent of the Air Force and 20 percent of the casualties in the Global War on Terrorism, said he was promoted "on the shoulders of some great people." 

He continued, "Whatever it says on my citations, my guys did all of that. The most important thing is that I brought all of my men home."