BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan--Maj. Brett A. Ayvazian, a New York City native currently stationed at Fort Knox, Ky. and deployed with AFSBn-Bagram, 401st Army Field Support Brigade, was awarded a Combat Action Badge by Col. Michel M. Russell, Sr., 401st AFSB commander, in an awards ceremony May 23.
The CAB was awarded in recognition of combat action Ayvazian was involved in at Forward Operating Base Warrior Mar. 21 when the FOB came under a rocket attack.
Ayvazian was the Mobile Redistribution Property Assistance Team officer-in-charge leading the Task Force Devil Hammer 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, equipment fielding. On the evening of March 21, he was having dinner and the Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (CRAM) system alerted an incoming indirect fire attack. Following procedure, he hit the ground and waited.
"I wasn't comfortable in the mess hall tent," Ayvazian said. "I walked to the work area to get accountability of the team and a few seconds later a second CRAM alarm went off."
Ayvazian said he again hit the ground and when he looked up he saw the round explode.
"It landed in a crater that contained the shrapnel," he said.
He estimated that he was about 50 meters from the point of impact.
Ayvazian said he went to the battle tactical operations center to report that he saw the point of impact and escorted Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel to the site where they were able to identify the type of round and the point of origin. With that information, the FOB quick reaction force went to the point of origin where they found and seized the weapon used to launch the attack.
"My initial reaction was, 'Wow, that was pretty close'," he recalled. "A few hours later the gravity set in."
"People think that as logistics officers, we're 'in the rear with the gear', but that's not always the case," he added. "We're right out there with the Warfighter."
The Combat Action Badge was approved by the Chief of Staff of the Army on May 2, 2005 to provide special recognition to Soldiers who personally engage, or are engaged by the enemy. The CAB consists of an oak wreath supporting a rectangle bearing a bayonet surmounting a grenade. In keeping with the spirit of the Warrior Ethos, the CAB provides special recognition to Soldiers who personally engage the enemy, or are engaged by the enemy during combat operations. The bayonet and grenade are associated with active combat. The oak wreath symbolizes strength and loyalty.
Social Sharing