Aviators Honor 2007's Best

By Jerry Harben, MEDCOM Public AffairsMay 15, 2008

The Army Aviation Association of America has honored Capt. Bryan Johnson of 1st Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment with its 2007 Army Aviation Medicine Award; Staff Sgt. Fred A. Osgood of 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment with its 2007 Army Aviation DUSTOFF Flight Medic of the Year Award; and the 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment with its 2007 Army Aviation Air/Sea Rescue Award.

Johnson provides medical support for more than 700 personnel at Camp Eagle, Korea. He sees sick call as well as being a flight surgeon, and is on 24-hour call two weeks a month. His nomination included many testimonials to his dedication and expertise.

"I called up Capt. Johnson and asked him if I could drive over and get my flight physical done. Within three days, everything was complete and I had my new upslip," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Rodney Hudson, a maintenance test pilot who had been told a medical appointment at Camp Humphreys would take three months.

Osgood has flown more than 100 Direct Assault/Time Sensitive Target and casualty evacuation missions and more than 500 hours of combat time. He also has been appointed battalion flight instructor.

Among his missions in 2007 was the evacuation of eight casualties, including three critically wounded Soldiers, from a landing zone under enemy fire in Afghanistan. During a training course he treated a fellow student knocked unconscious by a blow to the head, leading to the patient's recovery despite severe intracerebral bleeding.

"Being in such a professional and small community, it gives us a chance to get to know everyone we work with, and that makes it a little more personal when caring for the wounded," Osgood said.

The 3rd-25th Aviation was recognized for responding to four bombs that killed at least 60 Iraqis and wounded more than 250 in two villages west of Tal Afar, Iraq, on Aug. 14, 2007. Six UH-60 helicopters and one CH-47 reconfigured for medical evacuations flew more than 30 hours to evacuate 41 patients to the 28th Combat Support Hospital and then on to Dahuk Hospital near Mosul. The unit also brought additional blood products to the 28th CSH to help treat the casualties.

(160th SOAR contributed to this report.)