Maj. Gen. Karl R. Horst, commander of Joint Force Headquarters - National Capital Region and The U.S. Army Military District of Washington, hosted an award and farewell ceremony for Col. James Conaway, Team Chief - Medical Evacuation to Continental United States (CONUS) Hospitals on June 2, 2010. Maj. Gen Horst thanked Conaway for being an "unsung hero." He also thanked him for being a valuable team player and for his 29 years of service. He stated Conaway will be missed for his "professionalism, teamwork, and mentorship."
Maj. Gen. Horst noted that Conaway had a family support team and thanked his wife, Kelly and sons Bryn-Marc, a master degree student at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro who attended the ceremony and Zachary, a captain assigned to the 10th Mountain Division in Ft. Drum, NY who was not able to attend. He said Conaway's family was key in supporting him on the important mission of caring for our wounded servicemembers. Maj. Gen Horst said that Kelly worked side by side with her husband Col. Conaway by being a Red Cross volunteer on most medical evacuation missions. He also presented Kelly with a certificate of appreciation for her work as an American Red Cross volunteer with the Medical Evacuation Team.
Maj. Gen Horst also noted that each member of the Medical Evacuation Team gave compassionate and heartwarming care to each servicemember that came to the Andrews Air Force Base. Since Conaway started as the team chief the mission numbers for the past two and half years he and his team received over 396 flights; assisted with over 800 outbound flights; and supported over 10,950 wounded servicemembers as they returned home to family and loved ones.
Conaway was awarded The Meritorious Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious service while assigned as the Team Chief for the Medical Evacuation to CONUS section, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (J1)A,A, Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region and The United States Military District of Washington for his "outstanding leadership, professionalism and continual efforts resulted in outstanding support to over ten-thousand returning Wounded Warriors from January 14, 2008 to June 30, 2010."
Col. Carlen J. Chestang, Jr., chief of staff of Joint Force Headquarters - National Capital Region and The U.S. Army Military District of Washington and former J1, presented Conaway with crystal trophy from the J1 and stated "Many people are unaware of all the great things Col. Conaway and his team do to assist our wounded servicemembers and their families. Col. Conaway's efforts will play large dividends in the future care of our wounded warriors."
Lt. Col. Richard Stitzer, a member of the Surgeon General's Office of the Army National Guard, representing Maj. Gen. Raymond Carpenter, Director of the Army National Guard presented Conaway with the National Guard Bureau Minute Man Award. He said the award was being presented for the "world class care and compassion you have shown our wounded warriors."
Conaway thanked the staff and his family for their support during his tenure at the Medical Evacuation Team Chief. "I want to thank the MECH Team with our hard charging noncommissioned officers, Master Sergeants Reyna, Taylor, Johnson, VanArsdale, and Sgt. 1st Class Caudell that I have served with in support of our Wounded Warriors as they return home to their families and friends. Without them the mission cannot occur and our ability to help a soldier cannot be fully met. The new team chief, Col. Claude I. Schmid will do a fantastic job and has the full support of our entire team and the Military District of Washington staff to make the mission better and more successful. I also want to thank my family, my sons, Zachary, the new captain in our family and Bryn-Marc visiting with us today. Bryn Marc is working on his Masters in Athletic Training and of course my wife and partner in service to our Wounded, Kelly. We have grown many new friendships here and will miss all of you as we move forward."
"I have so many stories to tell but I am honored that I have had the privilege of meeting real heroes every day and shake their hands and thank them for their service while we take care of them at Malcolm Grow Hospital at Andrews Air Force Base. Our work behind the scenes is critical in taking care of these wounded warriors when they arrive at Andrews until they reach their treatment centers. From the time a warrior comes in - we are there with them helping them to work through questions like 'What am I going to do' What about my family'' What's going to happen to me'' Many times I am inspired by the Army spirit that comes alive in spite of the injuries they have received. I accompanied one Soldier to Arlington while he was here recovering from an injury. This young Soldier said to me - I want to go visit my Staff Sergeant who is buried here. I took him and this young man took his arm out of his sling to salute his sergeantAca,!a,,cs final resting place. This was just one example of the Army spirit I see alive and well in our American Soldiers."
Whether coordinating behind the scenes for care of wounded Soldiers, visiting and assisting with Soldiers already on the ground at the various medical facilities or coordinating for a visit by the President on Memorial Day to visit wounded warriors at Andrews Air Force Base, Conaway felt his mission was inspirational each day.
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