OAK HARBOR – Three Whidbey Island Naval Air Station sailors will receive Bronze Star medals for their work in finding and destroying enemy munitions while serving in Iraq.
The three are all members of the base’s Disposal Mobile Unit 11, Detachment Three. Vice Adm. Barry Costello, commander of the U.S. Third Fleet, will award the medals Tuesday at an 11:30 a.m. ceremony.
The three are Ensign James Higgins Jr., Technician Chief Raymond Goings and Petty Officer 1st Class Justin Mosiman. They served in Iraq from February to August.
Higgins led a unit through 86 combat disposal missions that identified, made safe and disposed of unexploded munitions. He also managed the acquisition, distribution and maintenance of all communication and transportation equipment, demolition materials and robotic gear.
Goings contributed to 23 combat missions netting more than 425 pieces of captured and unserviceable ammunition, and he was chosen to train an Iraqi detachment to take over bomb-disposal responsibilities.
Mosiman was involved in 43 combat missions that led to the capture of 2,200 pieces of ammunition. He’s also cited for showing courage while doing an investigation of an explosion while under fire.
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.
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