Bobby's Nomination for Aviation Soldier of the Year and Citation for Air Medal with Valor

SPC Robert Brownlee
Photograph and Biography

BIOGRAPHY
SPC Robert Brownlee was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1984. He joined the U.S Army in November of 2002 as a 15U Chinook Repairer. Upon completion of Advanced Individual Training, SPC Brownlee was assigned to C Company, 52 Aviation Regiment at Camp Humphreys, South Korea. As a PFC during this period SPC Brownlee performed as action squad leader on numerous field exercises. After his PCS from Korea he was assigned to D Company, 6-101st Aviation Regiment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. After a short period in the maintenance platoon, SPC Brownlee was selected, due to his outstanding work ethic and knowledge of the aircraft, for a flight position in B Company. SPC Brownlee deployed as a CH-47D Crew Chief to Iraq in the fall of 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom IV. He was advanced to the position of Flight Engineer in April of 2007. As a Flight Engineer he went to two JRTC Rotations and two iterations of High Altitude Conditions training at Ft. Carson, Colorado. SPC Brownlee deployed for a second combat tour on 2 January 2008 to Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Since then he has flown over 425 combat hours, participating in over 27 air assault operations, to include Operation Commando Wrath for which he was awarded the Air Medal for Valor. While assigned to B Company he accumulated over 1,000 total flight hours, including 700 plus NVG hours and over 700 combat hours. SPC Brownlee’s awards and decorations include the Air Medal with Valor, the Air Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC).
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Specialist Robert Brownlee represents the very best that our Army and branch have to offer. He possesses the drive, motivation, and technical competence to succeed at the highest levels. SPC Brownlee is held in the highest esteem by peers and superiors alike. His unremitting devotion to mission accomplishment has earned him the designation as a CH-47D Chinook Flight Engineer-a position normally held by non-commissioned officers. SPC Brownlee is the only Chinook crewmember in the Afghan theater below the rank of sergeant to hold this coveted position. SPC Brownlee truly exemplifies the Army Values in every aspect of his on- and off-duty performance.
SPC Brownlee’s dedication to mission accomplishment, regardless of the conditions, never wavers. While others are relaxing and enjoying their down time, SPC Brownlee can often be found on the flight line, working tirelessly to ensure that his aircraft, crew, and assigned equipment are maintained at the highest state of readiness. Over the past 12 months of sustained combat operations, SPC Brownlee’s assigned aircraft maintained an average mission capable rate of over 79% - a tremendous feat given the extremely high OPTEMPO in this highly kinetic area of operations. His unwavering dedication and professionalism have directly contributed to the successful completion of over 150 combat missions in extremely challenging N2KL (Nangarhar, Nuristan, Konar, and Laghman provinces) area of operations. This severely restrictive terrain consists of over 9,825 square miles (roughly the size of the state of Maryland) of towering mountains, arid deserts, and fertile farmlands. With temperatures ranging from over 120 degrees in the summer months to negative 20 degrees in the winter months, this is undoubtedly the world’s most difficult terrain in which to operate. Despite these conditions, SPC Brownlee performed brilliantly. As a flight engineer, he was responsible for ensuring the safety of over 2,400 passengers as well as the safe rigging and transport of over 800 Tons of critical supplies for U.S. and Afghan forces stationed at some of the most isolated and remote locations in all of Afghanistan. His truly selfless service and willingness to put the mission above all else have made him and undeniable asset to Task Force Out Front.
SPC Brownlee’s personal courage is beyond reproach and, without a doubt, one of his most distinguishing characteristics. He volunteers for every mission, regardless of complexity or person danger. SPC Brownlee was routinely selected to serve as the flight engineer on resupply missions to the highly canalizing Korengal and Kamdesh Valleys. These missions required AH-64D Apache escorts due to the high enemy populations and successful use of small arms and anti-aircraft weapons systems against coalition force lift aircraft (one such event resulted in the shoot-down of a CH-47D from a sister aviation task force early in the deployment). Despite these dangers, SPC Brownlee always maintained a cool demeanor, even in the most dire of circumstances. His ability to remain calm under pressure has a contagious influence on his fellow crewmembers and passengers.
SPC Brownlee’s unrivaled competence resulted in his selection to serve as the flight engineer on the first ever combat Fast Rope Insertion/Extraction System (FRIES) mission in the Afghan theater. His actions on this mission contributed to the successful insertion of 18 TF Out Front Pathfinders, resulting in the recovery of a $1.2 million Persistent Threat Detection System (PTDS) aerostat balloon – a critical theater-level asset. SPC Brownlee’s technical expertise makes even the most dangerous and complicated missions appear routine. On a recent air assault operation, SPC Brownlee led his fellow crewmembers into an extremely hostile landing zone in order to expedite the extraction of a friendly element that had come under heavy small arms and RPG fire. With no regard for his personal safety, SPC Brownlee and his fellow crewmembers exited the aircraft after touching down on the hot landing zone to assist the Special Forces team members with boarding the aircraft. SPC Brownlee’s actions that day resulted in the awarding of the Air Medal with “V” device for his valor in expediting the extraction of this besieged special operations element. His actions during this operation, along with countless others, have earned him the unquestioned respect of our supported ground maneuver elements – whether it be the Solders of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, or the highly trained U.S. and Afghan Special Forces operatives that operate throughout the N2KL.
SPC Brownlee’s knowledge and understanding of the highly complex systems that comprise the CH-47D Chinook have made him an invaluable asset in this multi-functional aviation task force. He was routinely selected by his leadership to serve as the Chinook company representative at the daily Task Force Production Control meetings. His ability to foresee and forecast significant maintenance issues enabled the Task Force to avert potential issues before they arose. As a result, no heavy lift resupply or battlefield circulation mission was ever cancelled due to maintenance. During these past 12 months, SPC Brownlee’s assigned aircraft underwent two phase maintenance inspections in record time, due in large part to his extensive and thorough pre-phase preventive maintenance.
In addition to being an extremely talented flight engineer and junior Soldier, SPC Brownlee also serves as a role model for young Americans in his hometown of Los Alamos, New Mexico. He is frequently asked to speak to students and faculty of his alma mater, sharing his insights and experiences from his two combat deployments. He also speaks frequently at the local Rotary Club, where he discusses his thoughts on patriotism and the true meaning of service. SPC Brownlee is a devoted Soldier and a loyal friend. His comrades know that he can be counted on to lend a helping hand at any time of the day or night, whether it be receiving a late night call to act as a designated driver or driving over 300 miles to help out a friend in need. He is, quite simply, the kind of Soldier that ever leader wants in his formation. His actions over the past 12 month, though seemingly small, have contributed immeasurable to the success of Task Force Out Front. He is truly a credit to himself, this task force, the aviation branch, and the United State Army.

Aviation Soldier of the Year
Robert Brownlee, Specialist
B/6-101st Aviation Regiment, Task Force Out Front
101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Assault)

SUMMARY
SPC Brownlee is an exemplary Soldier in every sense of the word. His dedication to the Army, his unit, and the aviation branch are what makes him an outstanding Soldier and junior leader. His ability to motivate his peers in the harshest conditions has earned him the respect of his peers, senior NCOs and task force leadership. SPC Brownlee serves as a CH-47D Flight Engineer and is the only Specialist to hold that position in all of Afghanistan. He has flown over 425 combat hours this year in the most grueling and unforgiving terrain in the world, all of which have been accident and incident free. He has successfully accomplished over 27 Air Assaults and 150 combat missions in the most hazardous and challenging battle space in the Afghanistan AOR. His ability to inspire and mentor his crew members has earned him a spot on the “A” team crew that is selected to fly our most demanding and difficult missions. SPC Brownlee is an extraordinary person, Solider, and junior leader.

Air Medal with Valor
SPECIALIST ROBERT BROWNLEE, United States Army, distinguished himself with exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding achievement as a CH-47D Flight Engineer, assigned to 3rd Platoon, B Co. 6-101 Aviation Regiment, Task Force Out Front, on 6 April 2008 during OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.
During Operation Commando Wrath, which took place on April 6, 2008, five CH-47Ds gallantly assaulted the Dow Ab valley in the mountainous terrain of the Nuristan Province in Northeastern Afghanistan. The five CH-47Ds assaulted 150 plus Special Forces and Afghani Commando’s into rigorous terrain at the pressure altitude of 8,000 feet to dill or capture a High Value Target. Then enemy threat was high, and the S2 briefed the insurgents would retaliate with RPGs, AK-47s, MANPADS, and other weapons available. SPC Brownlee called the pilots into the tight HLZ, landing the aircraft on snow next to a 300 foot cliff 200 meters shy of the objective in an extremely challenging terrain to enable the Special Forces Teams to complete their mission.
Upon arrival at Jalalabad Airfield, two CH-47Ds were launched as the QRF to immediately re-supply Special Forces into the Dow Ab Valley. More than twenty US and Coalition casualties had been taken into the Dow Ab Valley. Two AH-64s and A-10 aircraft were conducting gun runs on the objective, enabling the ground forces to neutralize and destroy enemy forces. SPC Brownlee was the Flight Engineer who led two CH-47Ds to exfil the Special Forces who fought a vigorous battle for hours. Two miles prior to arrival at the HLZ, the HLZ was declared hot. Intel reported that 50-100 insurgents were making their way south down the valley towards the objective. Both CH-47Ds aircrews calmly replied, “Roger, we’re inbound for landing.” Both aircraft returned once more for an extraction while rounds and bombs were going off in a 360 degree battlefield. During the final extraction, video footage captured by the person in the troop seat shows the lead CH-47 missing an RPG by less than 500 feet.
As a result of SPC Brownlee’s situational awareness and flight endurance, his crew flew greater than six hours during a deliberate assault which led to the capture of eight detainees and the destruction of 25 insurgents. His attention to detail and situational awareness allowed the aircraft to land in an extremely tight and dangerous HLZ. US Special Forces and Afghan Commandos were able to complete their mission due to the dedicated heroism of SPC Brownlee.

Bobby Receives a New Bike

Bobby arrives at Denver Airport to a Surprise Greeting
from family and memers of the Patriot Guard

Bobby just has to ride his new bike even though the weather
is just a tad cold!

He "strikes a pose" with the bike.

watch the video as he sets out on his first ride!

Bobby has made it home. For his years of service to this country (and because we love him so very much) Sharon and I bought him this bike as a surprise! A bunch of the family was there to see his surprise! Today, he registered it and put on his Colorado Plates! And yes, took it for a spin. Sharon recorded the event!

Bobby has left Afghanistan!

Bobby is on his way home! I just talked with him tonight and he is out of that country now in on of the ....stans north of there. He said he will fly into Ft. Cambell this Sunday. We will be there to meet him. It has been a long year and he has made it safetly out of there. You all know he has been in some pretty tight spots and has seen a lot of fighting. How lucky we are and our hearts go out to the families that don't get to see their loved one return. We won't forget! Everytime we see that flag....everytime we see a soldier....we will remember the sacrifice they have made for this country and for those over there fighting this evil.

Welcome home Bobby. Job well done. We love you and have missed you so. All are everjoyed tonight cause we all have worried so much for your safety. Our prayers have been answered. We won't forget your service.

Dad and Sharon and all the family

The Best Buck of the Season 2008

I got the message from Brent as he stood over his 10 point buck. You could hear the excitement in his voice, I knew this was a big one by the tone of his voice and the short breaths caused by the lingering adrenaline still in his system. I told him to give me a write up on the big event. Here it is! ........


Nothing but pure skill brought this buck down on the Brownlee ranch at approx. 4:45pm 12/23/08. Years of sitting in the tree stand for hours at a time constantly surveying the horizon for movement of any kind. Studying the wind direction, following the moon cycle and barometric pressures, bathing with soap without soap, not bathing scent blockers. Watching the bobcats, the racoons, squirrels and birds to see how they react to different scents and noises. Using only stealth mode to walk in and out of the hunting areas as to not disturb the landscape or leave any scent behind. Using only the finest in camouflage apparel to conceal yourself, and learning to use such tools as Lollipop, the chalk line, plumb bob, butt plug, the Hilton the stairway to dear heaven, the Howard Johnson and tripod methods to improve my hunting skills. And then to think that true deer hunters do this with our only means of taking this seasoned adversary with a Bow and Arrow and on rare occasions a pocket knife for backup. Well I could go on and on telling you what it really takes to bag such an elusive seasoned species as the Grand Daddy white tail buck. But I knew that with the lessons and stories that I had learned and listened to from Carl, Wayne, Doug, and Chip that I had the skills to conquer this animal. So here is the story!

I had left work at approx. 4:15pm on the 23rd and had decided that with the weather conditions changing from sunny to overcast and cloudy that this may be the last good day to get to the Brownlee ranch to hunt. I had been thinking about how and where to hunt this evening. Upon my arrival I decided to hunt by the wheat field east of the farm house, I observed that there was still quite a bit of snow around the trees and was unsure how much noise I would make while sitting in the trees. The wind had changed from the south to the north and it was about 20 degrees. At this time I moved up by the old club house and decided to hunt by the old calf feeder, I parked the truck and got to go to the designated hunting areas. Upon arriving I just did not feel the true deer hunting senses that a seasoned hunter such as my self usually gets when you know the feeling is right and it is going to be a good hunt so..... I got back in the truck. At this time I was looking to the south toward the duck pond and I observed a couple of does running south toward the Briar Patch. I felt that with the wind and the temperature dropping that I may be more concealed in the trees at the Tripod, besides I was already cold. While I was driving around the duck pond on the damn I saw some more does running to the south, I contemplated walking to the south and hunting on the east side of the Hilton, again my instincts told me to go down to the pasture and just see how your senses felt there then I could decide. I drove to the area we have dedicated as Carls parking lot. I mow an area here so Carl (who is not a bow hunter, and hunts the easy way with a rifle) can park and does not have to walk very far to his heated enclosed blind. This area is mainly used to prepare for the days hunt and is a meeting place when the day is finished.

I had arrived and shut the truck off, I had not been hunting for a while so some of my vital hunting aids were on the bottom of the storage area behind my seat. I had found my camo coveralls and had opened both the front and the back door of my truck to block some wind while I began to put on my coveralls. While jumping around putting on my coveralls, I saw a big buck walking toward me from the south. @#%^&%$%! My boot was caught in my my coveralls so I could not get them pulled up past my waist or back over my boot with out making a big commotion. When I first saw him he was about 65 yards away walking down the road. I am trying to watch him thru the back glass of my truck while I try to sneak my bow out of its case which is laying on my tool box in the back of my pickup. I was able to get my bow out and an arrow, by now the buck is about 35 yards away still walking toward me, I realize that I do not have my trigger to shoot my bow and an not sure I know where it is. I am able to see the buck walking to the truck, looking at it, wondering who parked this here? I got my trigger on put the arrow in but my trigger was on upside down &^%%)(^&^%$!!!! He is about 8 yards away and turns and looks toward the west. While trying to keep my pants up, shooting with my middle finger ( I feel you pain Wayne) I let the arrow go...... PERFECT SHOT.... just as I had practiced for so many years......? The bucked jumped and turned running to the south back down the road. He ran for about 40 yards where he died... end of story!!!!

Yes I no the ending was kind of a let down. Only those of us that have spent the endless hours watching for the Big Grand Daddy understand the ending!

Christmas 2008

Well, Christmas has come and now we are looking at the new year. I am writing this because it is December 28th in Afghanistan and Bobby will fly his last mission over there today! The 101st Airborne Division year tour in Afghanistan has ended...all but a few have returned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky for Christmas...but Bobby is one of the last few to remain there and train the replacements. Tough break! Bobby has had quite a year over there. His unit is being put in for Army Aviation Unit of the Year! And Bobby is told that the Unit should get it hands down. Bobby has been put in for the Army Aviation Soldier of the Year and is told that he might just very well receive that honor. What an accomplishment to go with his medal of valor along with the other medals he has be awarded. The 29th of December he will fly to Bahgram, Afghanistan and wait for a flight out of Afghanistan to a place he can catch the military charter flight that brings him home to Fort Campbell. There, many of us will wait for him to land and greet him in the hanger with the other families greeting their loved ones...the last to arrive home. Bobby is planning on getting out of the Army in the next couple of months and moving to Colorado. We are so excited to have him home. I don't think I can ever express enough thanks for the support I have receieved from Sharon and the support Sharon and I have received from family and friends. It was a tough year for me and I was just sitting around feeling sorry for myself...while Bobby was the one taking the risks and working day in and day out doing the job this country has asked him to do to protect Freedom's Frontiers. So it has been quite a tough year for Bobby I am sure...he will have to process the experiences he has lived and place those awful war sights and sounds where they let him live his future life knowing he has made a difference for many! I know this family is proud of him.

He has flown with his Chopper ....

In the flat lands of the the USA

The deserts of Iraq....

To the high mountains of Afghanistan!

It has been one heck of a ride for Bobby!

Two Quarters short of a Buck

Chip, Woman Runs Him, came to the farm for the deer hunt this season. First to hunt with his newly aquired bow, and then to hunt the rifle season. He drove all night and the next morning practiced shooting the arrows with the new broadhead points attached. And oh how that guy could shoot! Thwaaaack....and the arrows entered the target, all neatly around the bullseye....all good kill shots! The man was ready for the hunt!

The next morning, the two new Colorado bow hunters rose and went to the Howard Johnsons Blind. Woman Runs Him sat on the deck as Once Was a Man sat inside the blind armed with his camera. Once Was a Man had already missed his big buck, it was his brother's turn at the bow!

The beauty there just south of the Briar Patch is something to behold in the Kansas Morning....looking closely in the trees to the east you could see the turkeys in their tree roosts!

As the morning sun brightened the sky, our archer sat on the deck and watched as does passed by, all within easy reach of his deadly shot. But our hunter wanted the buck so he waited and waited. It was late afternoon when his luck finally took a turn. There he came...the buck...moving down the draw...in the trees...but coming toward our hunter. Like Appollo, the Greek God, our archer stood, poised to make the perfect shot. He drew back his bow and lined his arrow toward its mark. With camera pointed, Once was a man waited...and waited...and waited....but no arrow sprang forth.

The buck turned and walked away...our archer, like a statue stood...bow raised...bow string pulled back and touching his cheek as he looked down the shaft of the arrow...still trying to fing the peep hole in his sights! And when he finally found the picture of the buck in his sights...all he saw was the back end of the buck!

Buck fever can take a man quickly, leaving even the simplest of tasks that are taken for granted lost in the moment. Slowly our hunter released the string on his bow to the rest position. The look of a greek god was gone and replaced by the look of a gothic gargoyle!

But unbelievably, the buck turned around and came back! Our hunter sprang into position, no time to waste...the buck was broadside...he drew back his bow and...................pfffffft........the arrow left his bow like someone had just peed it over the edge of the deck! How could this be? The buck looked up, confused....what was that? He looked toward the blind and perhaps could hear the muffled laugh of Once Was a Man! Our hunter had quickly ducked and loaded another arrow...yes...he had goofed and hit the release trigger while drawing back his bow string...but perhaps there was time!

The buck however figured it was time to leave and turned and walked toward the blind!

Our hunter sprang back into action, this time worrying not if he was sighted...a shot had to be made and quickly or the buck would soon realize his situation and run for cover! Our hunter stood up and quickly drew back his bow string..........pfffffft went his arrow.....just over the edge of the blind and lifelessly to the ground below. He had hit the release as he had drawn back his bow again! The buck, oblivious to it all...slowly walked toward the north and disappeared. Both hunters now were in fits of laughter.....with pauses interupted by spasms of surpressed laughter. They realized that this days hunt was over...it was not meant to be. They had bothed "passed the buck" and could only laugh at their missed opportunities. The rifle season would come and things would be different....or so Once Was a Man thought.....!

The First Bow Hunt

Well, with names like "Once Was a Man" and "Woman Runs Him", hunting deer with a bow was a necessity! With the encouragement and the gift of two compound bows, Chip and I practiced and prepared for our first bow hunt this season. No better place to hunt than the "Farm" that has been in the family since homesteaded by our Great Grandparents in the 1800's. With successful rifle hunts, the challenge of a bow hunt was exciting.





Our bow hunting mentor, Doug, met us out there and showed us how it was done by shooting a big 4 by 5 buck that was standing under his tree blind!

I was lucky and shot my doe after she danced and played around and under my stand for several minutes. But how about the big buck? Is there a story there? Of course....


Let's start with Wayne....Once was a Man...did he have his Buck? Well it went down like this...


It is in the dead of the rut. Doug was in his "lollipop" stand. Brint was in the tri-pod. Wayne was in the newly built blind with the "bow hunter deck" installed and ready. Yes, a stand with a deck built just for the bow hunters. Now Carl was the great stand builder...he and Brint had built the "Hilton" just a couple of years before. Carl named this new stand the "Howard Johnsons"! Upgraded...sounder foundation...great sliding window...shingled roof! Inside was the heater, front opening measured perfectly for the rifle to lay on for a great shot. Carl was pleased...but Wayne begged for a deck on which bow hunters could sit, surrounded by camo, and able to shoot the bow at a moments notice. Using Vick's old tent blind platform...Carl attached it to the new blind and the deck was set. Carl really only did this because he could use this deck for turkey hunting! It goes against his nature to aide bow hunters!






From this perch, Once Was a Man watched as bucks chased does all over the place. Behind him they went. Around him they ran.....surely.....a shot would take place. What a sight...Brint and our hero watched as the bucks got closer and closer. Then, looking to the west, our hero saw two beautiful bucks...trophies each...chasing a doe. The bigger of the two moved in chasing the other buck back. Wow...witnessing this love triangle was like watching friday night late TV! The buck had the doe where he wanted her. He came up from behind....she...a look of innocence in her eyes but her body told a different story. She was arching her back....a look over her shoulder said she knew what was to come...but there was the feeling still that it was her first time. And oh what experiece was shown by this older male deer. No quick thing for him...he was cherishing this moment as he put his tongue and tasted her. Gosh...what was happening! My heart was pounding! What do I do? Do I end this before they fall even deeper in the process of this love making? Do I not give this big male a chance to win the prize...no doubt hard fought for during this rutting season? No...I thought. I was not fooled by that innocent look in her eyes! She had drew many into her web of deceit only to run off and bare her young with the big guy not ever knowing if it was his or not. I had to stop this here and now before this guy got attached to this vixen of a doe! So I drew back my bow for I could see an opening in the branches that crossed between them and me...yes...I had a shot and I should take it soon. I looked through the peep hole and laid the sights on the place just behind the front leg and half way up the body...the sweet spot...just where I had been practicing for weeks. My wounded trigger finger (another story) pointed uselessy forward as I took my middle finger and placed it on the string release lever. I pulled gently and watched my arrow fly...straight toward it's target who was still in the act of foreplay with this harlot. And just as it reached the opening in the branches, the arrow took an immediate turn downward, cutting off a small branch with its razor sharp blade, the arrow went to the ground at the bucks feet. No one noticed, but the doe I think sensed something happened out of the ordinary and took a few steps and moved into the Briar Patch with the buck following "tongue in cheek" so to speak.


I stood there in shock....the trophy was gone...the x-rated scene was gone...my chance for the "best buck of the season" was gone. I however still had high hopes that another chance would appear...but I was wrong for I waited and waited for another big buck and passed on so many others that the bow season left me without a buck...(my wife had put me on an allowence)...and without a big male deer as well!


But how did Woman Runs Him fare this bow hunting season? Stay tuned! But for now...the sun sets on the Farm with the view of the lake as we leave the evening hunt and return to the Deer Camp!