9/30/2013 - JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- An Airman from the 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron was awarded the Purple Heart medal during a ceremony at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Sept. 27.
Senior Airman Anthony Haupert, 62nd AMXS communications and navigation systems specialist, sustained injuries during a deployment last year to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, when the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft he was working on came under attack.
Haupert's actions during the attack helped prevent further damage to the aircraft, and potentially saved the lives of other military members in the area.
In the early morning of Aug. 22, 2012, under the cover of darkness with just a portable flood light illuminating their work area, Haupert and a team of maintenance personnel worked to replace the aircraft's radar dome, or radome.
Shortly after midnight, a 107 mm rocket exploded approximately 250 yards from where the team was working, forcing them to take cover inside the plane.
The Airmen realized that the enemy was using the illumination from the floodlight to target the aircraft and that they needed to quickly turn it off.
Haupert, along with Senior Airman Justin Wiliker, 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron communications and navigation systems specialist, left the protection of the C-17 and ran to turn off the light.
Just as they turned off the light and started heading back to the aircraft, a second rocket exploded less than 50 yards away, knocking both Airmen to the ground and rendering Haupert unconscious. Wiliker picked up Haupert and carried him into the aircraft.
Back in the relative safety of the C-17, which itself sustained damage in the attack, the team began providing first aid to Haupert. Upon regaining consciousness, Haupert was transported to the hospital to be treated for head injuries.
"When the first mortar came over, I was caught off guard," Haupert said looking back at the incident. "We all ran for cover and it was then that I realized they were targeting the light cart. Shutting off the light became our main priority."
Haupert's supervisor, Tech. Sgt. Marco Alcala, 62nd AMXS element leader, attended the Purple Heart ceremony and commended Haupert's actions on that day.
"Airmen Haupert helped save the aircraft and the Airmen that were there," said Alcala. "He more than deserves this medal and I am proud to have worked with him and have him as part of our unit."
Haupert reflected on the events that occurred on the flight line night, and how things could have ended up much worse.
"Many receive the Purple Heart posthumously, so for me, to be standing here today with my wife, it's a very humbling experience," he said. "I never would have expected this to happen in my Air Force career."
The ceremony took place on Haupert's last duty day at McChord Field. He is scheduled to move to Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., where he will begin training as a satellite command and control specialist.
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