AMS captain receives Bronze Star

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Laura Turner
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  A captain from the 732nd Air Mobility Squadron here received a Bronze Star Medal during a ceremony June 22. 

Capt. Karen Rupp, aerial port operations officer for the 732nd AMS, earned the medal for her service as commander of the 424th Medium Truck Detachment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

She was deployed from her former duty station, Dover Air Force Base, Del., to lead the detachment March 17 to Sept. 25, 2008.

"This deployment is the highlight of my career," Rupp said. "If I had come back from this deployment and my career had ended right then, I would have been happy with what I have done. It was a great mission." 

Her unit at Dover, moved about 100,000 tons of cargo by air annually. In comparison, while in the desert, the 424th moved 190,000 tons of cargo in less than seven months using only ground transportation. Able to haul 25 tons per truck each direction enabled them to move 50 tons with each vehicle. In the process, the unit received 28 insurgent attacks but had no fatalities. 

"We were as close to the fight as you can get and dealt with life and death situations on a daily basis. This mission required 100 percent focus at all times and everyone knew that complacency could get you or your fellow Airmen killed. So we took advantage of every opportunity to continue to train and train and train," Rupp said. "I truly believe that the repetitive training greatly contributed to bringing everyone home safely at the end of the deployment." 

To avoid more attacks, the 424th limited their movement to night missions. A lot of risk and responsibility was required and remembering their training was critical, said Rupp. Each Airman and Soldier kept their focus intact, was on point with every mission, and ensured that everyone made it home. 

"This award is not about me. It's about the Airmen and Soldiers that were there with me, a reflection of all the great things they did," said Rupp. "Without our unit, we knew Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines in Iraq wouldn't have the supplies they needed to continue the fight. That kept us going and made it a truly rewarding mission." 

Rupp was raised in the Bronx and received her degree from the University of South Carolina. Under her command, the 424th Medium Truck Detachment completed 126 combat convoy missions and amassed 4.9 million miles in Iraq.