Famous

The Air Force Space Command News ran an article about me.  You can find the original here.

Schriever Airman receives Bronze Star medal for Iraq tour

SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Capt. David Hearn was awarded the Bronze Star medal. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Daniel Martinez)

by Staff Sgt. Daniel Martinez
50th Space Wing Public Affairs

10/17/2007 – SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo.  — An intelligence officer with the 50th Operations Support Squadron earned a Bronze Star medal Oct. 15 for his role in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Col. Clinton Crosier, commander for the 50th Operations Group, presented the award to Capt. David Hearn,  during a commander’s call at the Building 300 Auditorium. “This is the first time in my career I have ever awarded a Bronze Star, which testifies to what a tremendous accomplishment this is for Captain Hearn,” Colonel Crosier said.“It’s a great honor to be awarded a Bronze Star,” Captain Hearn said. “I feel really blessed to be a part of a great military tradition. There are Soldiers and Marines out there who have earned their Bronze Star through direct combat with the enemy or through even greater sacrifice – their lives.” Captain Hearn sees the accomplishments that earned him the award as nothing more than just doing his job. 

“I was just blessed to be selected to be in the position I was in, working side by side with other warriors with one goal in mind: get home safe and make it safe for the rest of the troops,” Captain Hearn said. 

Captain Hearn was deployed to Iraq from May to November 2006 and served as a member of the Joint Special Operations Task Force. As an intelligence officer, he helped gather and present information that led to the capture of insurgents who were targeting American forces. 

“We would build a target package consisting of the target’s known locations, his associates and meeting places, and then pass that on to the special forces Soldiers. Then they would track him down,” Captain Hearn said. 

His work resulted in more than 750 targets, 350 successful missions and 1,800 intelligence packets, which the Iraqi courts used as evidence to convict insurgents for their roles in terrorizing American troops and Iraqi citizens. 

Captain Hearn said he doesn’t seek the recognition that comes with the award, but is just about getting the job done. 

“It’s a great feeling to know that I helped, even a little bit, to make the world safer. ” he said “I don’t need the accolades, but I am proud of my service and what we were able to accomplish.”