Barksdale Senior NCO receives Bronze Star Published July 20, 2007 By Staff Report BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- A Senior NCO in the 2d Civil Engineer Squadron has recently been awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement as an explosive ordnance disposal team leader while deployed to Baghdad International Air-port, Iraq, July 25, 2006, to Jan. 25. Master Sgt. Joseph Jarboe III, EOD flight chief, distinguished himself by meritorious achievement as the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron's EOD team leader, while engaged in ground operations. While deployed, he was exposed to extreme danger from hostile bombing and mortar attacks and demonstrated superior leadership in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sergeant Jarboe led his team and Army security elements on multiple unexploded ordnances and improvised explosive device missions. He supervised the neutralization and disposal of over 35,000 pounds of captured enemy explosives and 130 improvised explosive devices in a 500 square mile area of responsibility. Sergeant Jarboe expertly performed during Operation Commando Hunter II, by single-handedly guiding his team through six back-to-back missions during a ten hour period to open a main supply route. The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the military of the United States distinguished himself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while generally engaged against an opposing armed force on the ground in which the United States is not a belligerent party.