Bronze Star presentation

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Staff Sgt. Matthew Cooper receives a Bronze Star Medal from Col. William Thomas here June 28, 2010. Sergeant Cooper earned the medal for his actions in a combat zone while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom at forward operating base Altimur. Sergeant Cooper, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal technician, hails from Knoxville, Tenn. Colonel Thomas is the 4th Mission Support Group commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Gino Reyes)

EOD technician earns Bronze Star Medal

Published June 29, 2010
By Senior Airman Gino Reyes
4 Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Staff Sgt. Matthew Cooper earned a Bronze Star Medal for his service in a combat zone while deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as an explosive ordnance disposal team leader. While deployed to forward operating base Altimur, he was directly responsible for leading EOD operations for a 13,814 square-kilometer area. Sergeant Cooper's guidance was instrumental in resolving 75 EOD support operations, to include 14 improvised explosive device incidents and 10 weapons caches/unexploded ordnance emergencies.