Photo By Sgt. Clay Beyersdorfer | Staff Sgt. Richard Yocius currently serving overseas with the 163rd Military...... read more read more
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KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – In early January 2014, the unthinkable happened for two Soldiers at Forward Operating Base Pasab, Afghanistan.
“All I remember is hearing a gigantic boom,” said Staff Sgt. Richard Yocius, a cryptologic linguist currently serving in Afghanistan with the 163rd Military Intelligence Battalion out of Fort Hood, Texas.
That “gigantic boom” was a vehicle born improvised explosive device, driven by insurgents into the outer wall of the small FOB in southern Afghanistan.
The blast brought on by the VBIED was so large that it knocked Yocius down, hard enough to give him a concussion.
Yocius and his team were preparing for a mission, conducting rehearsal of concept drills and going through a rehearsal when the blast happened.
Nearby in his tent was Cpl. Michael Mayefski, a human intelligence collector also with the 163rd MI Bn.
Mayefski, a Larsen, Wis., native, was just getting ready for the day after working into the late hours the night before.
“I was close enough to the explosion to where a board fell and knocked me in the head pretty hard,” Mayefski said. “I was knocked out, and then hit the floor, where I knocked my head again.”
Although he was suffering from what ended up being a major concussion, Mayefski regained composure.
“After about 10 minutes, then I followed my leadership and did what we had to do to protect the compound we were in.”
“They kept asking me if I was alright, but I was completely out of it,” Mayefski said. “But then the adrenaline kicked in and I was able to help secure the area.”
Yocius, a Libertyville, Ill., native, also came-to, and eventually grabbed a team of Soldiers to help provide security.
Both Soldiers helped cordon and secure the compound they were living in, as both of their minds started to piece together what had happened.
“I originally thought it was incoming direct fire, but then I saw the smoke and had a pretty good idea of what had happened,” Yocius said. “Once we were able to secure the area, details started coming out and we were informed of what happened.”
Following the attack, both Soldiers received the proper medical evaluations and treatment.
Nearly four months later on May 6, 2014, both of them stood before a small crowd of 163rd Soldiers and supporters at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, where each was presented a Purple Heart medal for wounds sustained during combat overseas.
The prestigious awards were presented by Maj. Gen. Paul J. LaCamera, commanding general, Regional Command (South) and 4th Infantry Division.
“This isn’t an award you want to necessarily get, but you wear it with honor,” LaCamera said. “They did the right things and I commend these Soldiers for their actions during the events that took place.”
While their injuries were not as severe as other Soldiers who receive the Purple Heart Medal, both Yocius and Mayefski were ready to return to duty once medically cleared.
Just over a week later, both were back on the job, collecting intelligence on the attack that happened.
Their work has helped international security assistance forces find and defeat other insurgents across southern Afghanistan.
Both Yocius and Mayefski talked about what they did to help them stay alive and keep others safe during the attack.
“By following the standard operating procedures of our leadership and battalion, we were able to get through the situation,” Mayefski said. “Everyone did their job and we were able to protect our area.”
Although it isn’t an award Soldiers aim to get, both will wear the Purple Heart Medal with pride.
“You never want to be able to wear this medal, but we will wear it with pride and continue to work hard,” Yocius said.
| Date Taken: | 05.07.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 05.07.2014 00:41 |
| Story ID: | 128965 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF |
| Hometown: | LARSEN, WISCONSIN, US |
| Hometown: | LIBERTYVILLE, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 1,509 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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