139th News

Airman earns Purple Heart, recognized at Kauffman Stadium

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Theo W. Ramsey
  • 139th Airlift Wing
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. --  Staff Sgt. Troy Green, a member of the 139th Airlift Wing Security Forces Squadron, was recognized at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., April 28, 2013. Green earned the Purple Heart medal for injuries sustained during an attack by Afghan insurgents April 15, 2012.

Green was deployed to Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, with Agribusiness Development Team VI with the stated mission of promoting the revitalization of the agri-business capacity of the Nangarhar province and to legitimize the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

During the attack, insurgents hit the wall of the Forward Operating Finley Shields with a 250-pound car bomb, otherwise known as a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, or VBIED, pronounced "vee-beds," near where all of the National Guard members were housed. Four insurgents breached the walls before they were killed. The remaining insurgents were suppressed by snipers prior to breaching the walls.

The blast knocked sleeping Green off of his top bunk bed, rendered unconscious by hitting his face on the window sill on his way to the floor. He regained awareness to find all of the surrounding buildings on fire.

"The second explosion from an RPG 10-meters away brought me to," Green said.

The fire had spread to the headquarters building where Green sprang to action, providing protection to headquarters leadership. He also provided much needed direction to incoming soldiers, and helped clear buildings.

Green has since been recognized as the non-commissioned officer of the year in 2012 for his security forces unit, the 139th Airlift Wing, and for the Missouri National Guard.

Prior to joining the wing in 2011, Green was a military policeman with the Missouri Army National Guard in Moberly.

Green is married with five children and lives in Cameron, Mo.