MSgt Randy Gillespe, Logistics 

Master Sergeant Randy Gillespie,like most Airmen who volunteer for a year-long deployment with the Army, knew this deployment – his 16th in 24 years of service – would take him outside the wire and into harm’s way on a daily basis.

As a member of the 3rd Forward Support Depot Embedded Training Team near Herat, Afghanistan, one of Sergeant Gillespie’s duties was to mentor and teach members of the Afghan National Army (ANA) to operate fuel distribution points. Sergeant Gillespie quickly earned ANA’s trust and confidence. By the summer of 2007, his Afghan partners referred to him as "brother."

On the morning of July 9, Sergeant Gillespie met with his Afghan counterparts and proceeded to the Herat fuel distribution point to manage the operations and conduct training. Insurgents disguised as ANA soldiers approached the site and opened fire on Sergeant Gillespie and his troops, severely wounding several of them. Enemy gunfire struck Gillespie in the left hand, left leg and abdomen. In spite of his wounds, he immediately returned fire and, only after driving off the attackers, called for help. Despite the best efforts of medical personnel who soon arrived at the attack site, Sergeant Gillespie died of his wounds.

Sergeant Gillespie displayed uncommon valor, strength, and courage in the face of lethal enemy fire. Sergeant Gillespie is a hero – not just to Americans, but to the Afghans, the "brothers" he gave his life to serve.