U.S. Army soldiers receive French National Defense Medal (Silver Level)
U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Hames, Sgt. Rawan Abudahrieh and Sgt. 1st Class Geoffrey Bright receive the French National Defense Medal (Silver Level) June 11, 2015, for providing life-saving medical care to a French service member during a catastrophic motor vehicle accident in Feb. 27, 2015. The French National Defense Medal is awarded on three levels—bronze, silver and gold. Silver and gold-level medals are usually reserved to French individuals who have served in the French military for several years, and it is rare for U.S. service members to receive this award. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
*Note: to see previous story, visit https://www.hoa.africom.mil/story/11651/training-for-reality-army-civil-affairs
By Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of AfricaDjibouti, AfricaJun 12, 2015
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U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Hames, Sgt. Rawan Abudahrieh and Sgt. 1st Class Geoffrey Bright receive the French National Defense Medal (Silver Level) June 11, 2015, for providing life-saving medical care to a French service member during a catastrophic motor vehicle accident in Feb. 27, 2015. The French National Defense Medal is awarded on three levels—bronze, silver and gold. Silver and gold-level medals are usually reserved to French individuals who have served in the French military for several years, and it is rare for U.S. service members to receive this award. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
U.S. Air Force Col. James Kriesel, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa chief of staff, and French Marine Col. Jean-Bruno Despouys, 5th Marines commanding officer, conduct a Pass and Review during a ceremony at a Naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015. During the ceremony, three U.S. Army personnel received a French National Defense Medal (Silver Level) for saving the life of a French service member during a motor vehicle accident Feb. 27, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Hames, Sgt. Rawan Abudahrieh and Sgt. 1st Class Geoffrey Bright wait to receive a French National Defense Medal (Silver Level) June 11, 2015, for providing life-saving medical care to a French service member during a catastrophic motor vehicle accident in Feb., 2015. The French National Defense Medal, created in 1982, is awarded on three levels—bronze, silver and gold. It is rare for U.S. service members to receive this decoration, and general officers are the usual recipients. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
French Marine Col. Jean-Bruno Despouys, 5th Marines commanding officer, addresses French and U.S. troops during an award ceremony at a Naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015. Three U.S. Army soldiers received the French National Defense Medal (Silver Level) for saving the life of a French service member during a motor vehicle accident Feb. 27, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
French Marine Col. Jean-Bruno Despouys, 5th Marines commanding officer, pins a National Defense Medal on U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Hames during an award ceremony at a Naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015, due to his life-saving medical care to a French service member during a catastrophic motor vehicle accident in February. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Geoffrey Bright receives a National Defense Medal during an award ceremony at a Naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015, due to his life-saving medical care to a French service member during a catastrophic motor vehicle accident in February. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
The French National Defense Medal is pinned on a soldier at a Naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015. The French National Defense Medal, created in 1982, is awarded on three levels—bronze, silver and gold. It is rare for U.S. service members to receive this decoration, and general officers are the usual recipients. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
U.S. Army Sgt. Rawan Abudahrieh receives a National Defense Medal during an award ceremony at a Naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015, due to his life-saving medical care to a French service member during a catastrophic motor vehicle accident in February. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
404th Civil Affairs Battalion members from Camp Lemonnier attend an award ceremony for three Army soldiers at a French naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015. The French National Defense Medal (Silver Level) recipients saved the life of a French service member during a motor vehicle accident Feb. 27, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
152nd ESC supports forensic analysis center operations
U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 152nd Engineer Support Company build a sunshade structure over the Joint Theater Forensic Analysis Center at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, May 5, 2025.
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command, presided over the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa change of command from U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Brian Cashman, outgoing CJTF-HOA commanding general, to U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Matthew Brown, incoming CJTF-HOA commanding general, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 19, 2025.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Andrew Morgan, left, incoming 1st Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment commander, stands by during the 1-58th assumption of command ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 9, 2025.
152nd ESC supports forensic analysis center operations
U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 152nd Engineer Support Company build a sunshade structure over the Joint Theater Forensic Analysis Center at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, May 5, 2025.
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command, presided over the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa change of command from U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Brian Cashman, outgoing CJTF-HOA commanding general, to U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Matthew Brown, incoming CJTF-HOA commanding general, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 19, 2025.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Andrew Morgan, left, incoming 1st Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment commander, stands by during the 1-58th assumption of command ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 9, 2025.
152nd ESC supports forensic analysis center operations
U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 152nd Engineer Support Company build a sunshade structure over the Joint Theater Forensic Analysis Center at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, May 5, 2025.
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command, presided over the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa change of command from U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Brian Cashman, outgoing CJTF-HOA commanding general, to U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Matthew Brown, incoming CJTF-HOA commanding general, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 19, 2025.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Andrew Morgan, left, incoming 1st Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment commander, stands by during the 1-58th assumption of command ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 9, 2025.