Injured TACP awarded Air Force Combat Action Medal, Purple Heart

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chyenne A. Adams
  • 11th Wing Public Affairs
WASHINGTON --  Senior Airman Michael Malarsie was presented the Air Force Combat Action Medal and the Purple Heart Medal during a visit by his commanding officer, Lt. Col. Roy Fatur, 10th Air Support Operations Squadron commander, Fort. Riley, Kan., in a special ceremony Jan. 12 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C.

Airman Malarsie was injured Jan. 3 in an improvised explosive device attack on his unit near Kandahar, Afghanistan, where he was one of a two-man tactical air control party embedded with an Army infantry company. He's been receiving medical care at Walter Reed since Jan. 6.

Also in attendance and representing Air Force senior level leadership was Maj. Gen. Johnny Weida, assistant deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and requirements, headquarters U.S. Air Force.

"It was my honor to meet Senior Airman Michael Malarsie and his parents, James and Roxanne Malarsie, at Walter Reed. To be able to participate in a short ceremony to award Airman Malarsie the Purple Heart and Combat Action Medal was a very emotional and motivating experience for me," said the two-star general. "Emotional because of the serious wounds he's sustained; motivating because of the awesome attitude Senior Airman Malarsie displayed, despite a long road of recovery ahead of him."

The injured Airman currently cannot see or talk, yet his father said he actively participated in the short ceremony.

"At the end of the day, he's beat up from numerous procedures and check-ups and everything that goes along with his recovery process," said Jim Malarsie, Airman Malarsie's father. "But he's a trooper through and through."

According to Mr. Malarsie, his son's commanding officer told Airman Malarsie where he was standing and that he had something for him - as the commander read the citations to the few people in the room, he placed the medals in Airman Malarsie's hands so that he could feel them.

"As I was watching, I realized everyone in the room was standing at attention," said Mr. Malarsie. "Right then, a nurse walked in to check on Michael, and the nurse realized what was going on and stopped what he was doing and immediately came to attention. When I looked past him out into the hallway, I saw that even a passer-by had stopped and come to attention.

"That had quite an impact on me, to see how respectful these people were and to see my son with those two medals there in his hand. Then Michael - very slowly and very deliberately - raised his arm to salute. Everyone got teary at that point," he said. "It wasn't a long ceremony, but it was very moving and I know that my son was grateful."

The commanding officer had "nothing but praise and exceptional things" to say about Airman Malarsie.

"Airman Malarsie is a tremendous Airman and model 1C4 (tactical air control party). He and his JTAC, Senior Airman Smith, were loved and respected by their aligned battalion, company and platoon. They were at the leading edge of coordinating and executing air power in support of the ground commander," Colonel Fatur said. "It was emotional at the hospital, but it was very important to me to visit with my Airman, decorate him and ensure he's being taken care of - which he is, exceptionally well."

Airman Malarsie, 22 years old, joined the Air Force in 2007 and was deployed to Afghanistan in December 2009. His father says he's in stable condition now, but he has sustained severe injuries to his face and head in the explosion. Airman Malarsie's JTAC partner, Senior Airman Bradley Smith, was mortally wounded in the attack.

"I salute his honorable service and sacrifice for our Air Force and nation," General Weida said. "He has done his duty. Now we will do ours to help make him well... The awesome thing is we have an Air Force full of men and women like Airman Malarsie; Airmen who serve every day with honor and distinction in harm's way. Every American should go to a hospital where our Wounded Warriors are being treated. They will walk away from the experience forever changed. Freedom is indeed not free."

For more information or to donate to the families, visit the TACP Association Web site at www.usaftacp.com.