Sgt. Quintell Burns, Sr. awarded the Bronze Star
Sgt. Quintell Burns, Sr. of the U.S. Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Operational Detachment Alpha 7224 has been awarded the Bronze Star for his heroic efforts in Afghanistan.
Sgt. Burns, of the Samantha community, was deployed to Afghanistan from Jan. 15-Oct. 1 of this year. He returned to the U.S. in August for the birth of his third son.
The Bronze Star is a U.S. Armed Forces individual military decoration and the fourth-highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service. It is awarded to a member of the military who, while serving in or with the military of the United States, distinguishes himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States.
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Sgt. Burns, a 2005 graduate of Hillsboro High School, and the son of Janice Burns of Samantha, said he received the military honor during an Oct. 30 ceremony at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida for his efforts as a mechanic with the Army's 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
The 7th Special Forces Group organizes, equips, trains, validates and prepares forces for deployment to conduct worldwide special operations, across the range of military operations, in support of regional combatant commanders, American ambassadors, and other agencies as directed.
The Special Forces' motto is De Oppresso Liber (to free from oppression).
In addition to supporting the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, the 7th Special Forces Group(Airborne) Area of Responsibility includes: the land mass of Latin America south of Mexico; the waters adjacent to Central America and South America; the Caribbean Sea, its 13 island nations, European and U.S. territories; the Gulf of Mexico; and a portion of the Atlantic Ocean. It encompasses 32 countries (19 in Central and South America and 13 in the Caribbean) and covers about 15.6 million square miles. The region represents about one-sixth of the landmass of the world assigned to regional unified commands.
Sgt. Burns has been serving his country for five years in the U.S. Army.
He is married to Sonja Burns, and they have three sons, Joseph, Quintell Jr., and Jordan.
His grandparents are Stanley Burns, Sr. and Barbara Burns of Samantha.