Warriors - Alaska - Department of Military and Veterans Affairs ...

without a single delay in supporting a
mission which included transporting the
Secretary of Defense and the vice president
of the United States.
For their accomplishments, the “Arctic
Cowboys” Soldiers were awarded 46 Air
Medals, 20 Army Commendation Medals,
four Meritorious Service Medals and two
Bronze Stars – a true testament to their
unwavering dedication and professionalism
while deployed in support of their
state and nation.
“With a mission like this, everybody
becomes an expert on their specialized part
of the mission, and everybody knows everybody
else’s job,” said Captain Todd Miller,
commander, B Company, 1-207th Aviation.
“My unit has been together for a long time,
and it showed in their performance and
their ability to work with limited resources
and to get the mission done quickly.”
The Soldiers hail from Anchorage,
Eagle River, Wasilla, Fairbanks, Juneau,
Haines, Bethel, Quinhagak and Kenai. ■
Mommy! Michael Spillman waits for his mom,
Specialist Heidi Carbaugh, to return from Iraq after a
one-year deployment in support of Operation New Dawn.
Michael and hundreds of others gathered at the Alaska
National Guard Armory on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
in July to welcome home the Alaska Army National Guard
Soldiers. Photo: Major Guy Hayes, DMVA Public Affairs
Fall 2011 • WARRIORS Securing the State, Defending the Nation 13