US medals awarded to personnel
Stars descend on quartet

MEDALS GALORE: US Bronze Stars were awarded to: CAPT Paul Kinghorne (top), CAPT John Walton (second from top), LCDR David White (third from top) and CAPT Andrew Gough (bottom).

By Michael Brooke

Volume 49, No. 21, November 16, 2006

Four RAN officers have been awarded the Bronze Star Medal by the US Secretary of the Army for exceptionally meritorious service while serving with the Multi-National Force in Iraq.

CAPT Paul Kinghorne, CAPT Andrew Gough, CAPT John Walton and LCDR David White were recently presented with the medal, which is a highly valued US award.

The Bronze Star Medals presented to the RAN quartet reflects the high regard our coalition partners have for their professionalism and “Aussie can do” attitude.

CAPT Kinghorne, Director Strategic Logistic Transformation, Joint Logistics Group, received his medal for his meritorious service as the Chief of Logistic Plans in the Multi-National Force HQ at Camp Victory, Baghdad in 2005.

He led a team that was responsible for logistic planning for the 160,000 strong Multi-National Force and more significantly for the development of a logistic system for the Iraqi Military and Police force.

CAPT Kinghorne served in Iraq from January to July 2005 and was presented with the Medal by Air Commodore Margaret Staib CSC, the ADF’s Director General Strategic Logistics.

CAPT Kinghorne, who has served in the RAN for almost 28 years, said he was both surprised and honoured to receive such an important award.

“The contribution of the Australians in a very difficult environment cannot be underestimated. Again, we do more than the size of our contribution would suggest,” he said.

“In accepting the award I paid tribute to my team which consisted of US Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine corps officers and enlisted personnel and Australians from the Navy, Army and RAAF.”

CAPT Andrew Gough, Director, Directorate of Trials, received the Bronze Star “for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to Australia as Economic Division Chief, Strategic Effects Directorate, MNF-I, during Operation Iraqi Freedom”.

“As Chief of the Economic Division, CAPT Gough led a joint and combined staff to develop some of the most important non-kinetic strategies of the force. He created a country- wide focused stabilisation plan and executed a construction and economic development strategy in Baghdad Province that immediately paid dividends,” the citation read.

“His employment strategy to support the disarming, demobilisation and and reintegration of militias was a key part of the program’s success.”

CAPT Gough told Navy News he is pleased to be among the small group of RAN officers to have their service in Iraq acknowledged with the Bronze Star Medal.

“The Bronze Star is the US Military’s fourth highest award for achievement and it is a great honour for all the RAN and ADF members who have had their service acknowledged,” CAPT Gough said.
The Bronze Star was also awarded to CAPT John Walton for his outstanding contribution to the Economic Directorate of the MNF-I.

The US award was presented to CAPT Walton by Chief of Joint Logistics, AVM Chris Spence AM during a recent visit to Defence Establishment Orchard Hills.

CAPT Walton distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the Military Economic Directorate from April 20, 2005 to October 25, 2005.

The citation noted CAPT Walton’s “outstanding dedication to duty during combat operations in Iraq contributed to the overwhelming success of the command’s mission.”

“He provided an exceptional level of leadership, expertise, advice, and assistance in making strategic assessments of the Iraq economy and national infrastructure by identifying key critical economic effects.”

LCDR David White, from the Defence Intelligence Training Centre (DIntTC) Canungra; received the Bronze Star Medal for his distinguished service while deployed with the Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) “Troy”, in Iraq.

The COMD Training Command – Army, MAJGEN R. Wilson, presented the medal to LCDR White.

“It’s always a pleasure to present an ADF member with awards like this one, showing the Defence community what an excellent job our men and women are accomplishing overseas, and how they are held in such high regard,” MAJGEN Wilson said.

A 23-year veteran of the RAN, LCDR White received the award for “exceptional meritorious service during Operation Iraqi Freedom”. The Bronze Star citation highlighted LCDR White’s outstanding dedication to duty during combat operations in Iraq that contributed to the overwhelming success of the command’s mission.

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