By Staff
BRONZE STAR Maj. Scott Snively, left, and Maj. Billy Murphy members of the 238th Air Support Operations Squadron of the Mississippi Air National Guard receive the Bronze Star from Maj. Gen. Harold Cross during an awards ceremony Sunday. Cross is the assistant adjutant general for air and commander of the Mississippi Air National Guard. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Dec. 8, 2003
Six members of the 238th Air Support Operations Squadron of the Mississippi Air National Guard were honored in a decoration ceremony at Key Field on Sunday.
Maj. Billy F. Murphy Jr. and Maj. Scott R. Snively received the Bronze Star a medal awarded to those serving in the military since Dec. 7, 1941, who distinguish themselves by heroic or meritorious achievement or service in action not involving aerial flight.
Murphy and Snively called in air strikes in Iraq during March, April and May while working with the 101st Airborne Division. Both were air liaison officers. Murphy was assigned to the 101st Aviation Brigade. Snively was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team.
Murphy, 34, of Quitman, is a conservation officer with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in Clarke County.
Iraq mission
Snively, 47, is a writer for a business Web site in Ridgeland.
Col. Erik Hearon, commander of the 186th Air Refueling Wing, said the awards express the U.S. Air Force's trust and respect of the 186th, the 238th, and the 248th Air Traffic Control Squadron, also stationed at Key Field.
Murphy said he is grateful to the 238th and the 186th Air Refueling Wing for its support of his family while he was at war.
Additional awards
The medals were presented by Maj. Gen. Harold Cross, assistant adjutant general for air and commander of the Mississippi Air National Guard.
Cross also presented U.S. Army commendation medals to four members of the 238th for their service during combat with the 101st Airborne Division.
Those medals went to Master Sgt. James A. Tierney, assigned to the 1st Battalion 325th Parachute Infantry Regiment; Tech. Sgt. Johnny L. McGuire and Tech. Sgt. Quinton L. Sellers, both assigned to the 101st Aviation Brigade; and Tech. Sgt. Scott C. Self, assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment.