Kirtland Airmen awarded AF Combat Action Medal Published Aug. 4, 2010 By Carl Grusnick 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. -- Two Kirtland Airmen were awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal during a commander's call on July 27. Staff Sgt. Clayton Tiemann, an EOD specialist assigned to the 377th Mission Support Group, embedded with the U.S. Army's 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry deployed to Iraq, was on a route clearance patrol when his motor patrol came under attack by an improvised explosive device. With the patrol's team chief temporarily incapacitated by the blast, Sgt. Tiemann took command of the patrol, cleared the area and conducted a post blast analysis learning that the clearance patrol was specifically targeted. While nearing completion of her deployment in Afghanistan embedded with the U.S. Army's 2nd Brigade of the 201st Corp, Staff Sgt. Sarah Hodgkin, locally assigned to Kirtland's 377th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, was on a forward operating base convoy resupply run when it came under enemy fire. Serving as the convoy medic in this combined U.S. and Afghan National Army force, Sgt. Hogkin was in the lead U.S. forces vehicle when the convoy sustained enemy rocket propelled grenade, mortar and small arms fire. Repelling the 20 minute attack, the convoy was able to continue without sustaining any casualties. "We are very proud of these two brave airmen. They represent the dedicated men and women who wear the Air Force uniform and another greatest generation of professional guardians of our nation," said Col. Robert L. Maness, 377th Air Base Wing Commander. The Air Force Combat Action Medal is a relatively new medal first awarded in 2007, retroactive to incidents following September 11, 2001. It is awarded to Airmen who have been involved in direct combat situations where their lives are at risk in an enemy engagement.