Local Soldier one of the Brave

BLOUGH, NEFF

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 7/3/2008 at 19:35:46

"The Fairfield Ledger", Friday, June 27, 2008, Front Page and Page 9

Fairfield soldier earns Bronze Star for bravery
Story by Vicki Tillis, Ledger news editor

Twenty-seven year-old U.S. Army Staff Sft. Robert S. BLOUGH, formerly of Fairfield, recently was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, the fourth highest combat award of the U.S. Armed Forces, for his valorous conduct in the face of the enemy as a medical sergeant Aug. 26, 2006.

While BLOUGH, the son of Sherry BLOUGH NEFF and Dave NEFF of Fairfield and the late Bob BLOUGH, was stationed at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, during his second tour of duty in Afghanistan from Aug. 15, 2006, to March 20, 2007, the Southern Afghan National Army checkpoint in Khas Oruzgan was attacked by about 90 enemy soldiers. Within seconds of the ambush, one Afghan National Army soldier was seriously wounded with life-threatening injuries.

According to the narrative accompanying the award, BLOUGH, without waiting for support and without any available cover, moved about 900 feet under enemy machine gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire to reach the injured soldier. BOUGH (sic) immediately began life-saving aid even though he was exposed and receiving fire from three directions, and he moved between the soldier and the enemy to help shield him from the enemy fire.

"He got shot. I grabbed my medic bag and moved up to do my job," said BLOUGH. "I wasn't really thinking. I was just doing what I've trained to do."

While he was stabilizing and keeping the patient safe, BLOUGH continued to fire on the enemy. Even after the patient was medically evacuated to Firebase Anaconda, he refused to move back to a safer position and continued to combat the opposing forces for another five hours to help the unit gain fire superiority and repel the enemy forces.

"His actions were central to destroying the enemy and instilling courage in our Coalition Partners," states the award narrative. "His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism

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and reflect distinct credit upon himself, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, Special Operations Command Central, and the United States Army."

"I didn't do it looking for an award," said BLOUGH. "I was just doing my job. It's nice to be recognized, but I didn't do it for that reason."

BLOUGH, a 1998 Fairfield High School graduate, attended Indian Hills Community College before enlisting in the Army Feb. 13, 2000.

Currently, he is stationed with Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, N.C., and lives in Fayetteville, N.C. His wife Sarah is an officer in the U.S. Air Force.

"We're gone a lot, but it works out," he said.

BLOUGH is preparing for his third trip to Afghanistan in January.

"I'm actually looking forward to it," he said.

BLOUGH said his mission in Afghanistan is different than a regular combat mission because he helps run a national hospital.

"A town-doctor type of thing," he explained. "I see a lot of kids."

He recalled one young girl whose leg had been blown off by a land mine. After her surgery, he helped her learn to walk with crutches and then be fitted for a prosthetic leg.

"She came walking back in... that's the best part of the job, helping people," he said.

BLOUGH said about 90 percent of his duties in Afghanistan deal with helping people with health and welfare concerns -- he's helped dig a well to provide water -- while the other 10 percent actually deals with gunfight.

As of now, BLOUGH is planning to make the Army his career. Although soldiers can be enlisted for up to 30 years, they are elegible for retirement benefits after 20 years.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

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