Photo By Master Sgt. Dengrier Baez | Master Sgt. Thomas W. Hatchel Jr., 40, the chemical biological radiological nuclear...... read more read more
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CAMP COURTNEY— Master Sgt. Thomas W. Hatchel Jr., 40, the chemical biological radiological nuclear chief for 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force received a Bronze Star in a ceremony at Camp Courtney, Dec. 4.
The Tarboro, N. C., native received the medal for his actions during a deployment from Nov. 27, 2008, to Aug. 22 to Afghanistan as an embedded training team staff non-commissioned officer-in-charge to 2nd Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 201st Corps, Afghan national army, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
He performed a multitude of functions from conducting convoys on Afghan ammunition supply point, to ensuring all administrative requirements were completed in a timely manner, according to his Bronze Star citation.
From the day he began training, and throughout the deployment, he regularly committed time each night to study Dari, according to the citation.
"To do this job you have to genuinely care," Hatchel said.
His ability to speak directly to his Afghan counterparts without an interpreter was unmatched and as a result no one spent more time directly mentoring to, and coordinating with the Afghan leadership, according to his Bronze Star citation.
"Afghanistan is a dangerous country, and you always have to be prepared," Hatchel said. "It's a 24-hour job, not seven to four. Any given day, you would have to prep vehicles at 0300 and pull out at by 0400."
By helping the Afghan soldiers to be able to do sustained operations by themselves, the faster they are able to operate effectively on their own, the faster the troops could come home, Hatchel said.
Hatchel attributed his key to success to having people see progress on the hard work put forth by the team collectively, he said.
"If progress is being made, that motivates people to work harder to complete the mission at hand," Hatchel said.
"It's unbelievable," said Beth Hatchel, 35, spouse of Hatchel and a Southbridge, Mass., native. "He's going to retire after 22 years of service, and you couldn't ask for a better way to go out."
| Date Taken: | 12.13.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 12.13.2009 21:07 |
| Story ID: | 42702 |
| Location: | CAMP COURTNEY, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 173 |
| Downloads: | 97 |
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