Close Call: Soldier From Port Chester Awarded Combat Badge After Rocket Attack

Port Chester native Maj. Brett A. Ayvazian, currently stationed at Fort Knox, KY, and deployed with AFSBn-Bagram, 401st Army Field Support Brigade in Afghanistan, has been awarded a Combat Action Badge following his base coming under a rocket attack.

The badge was awared by Col. Michel M. Russell Sr., 401st AFSB commander, in a May 23 ceremony in recognition of combat action Ayvazian was involved in at Forward Operating Base Warrior on March 21.

Back home in Port Chester, the Port Chester Fire Department's Washington Engine and Hose Co. No. 4 displays the Blue Star flag outisde the firehouse to honor Ayvazian and Robert Hay, both members of the fire company.

Ayvazian was the Mobile Redistribution Property Assistance Team officer-in-charge leading the Task Force Devil Hammer 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, equipment fielding. On the evening of March 21, he was having dinner and the Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (CRAM) system alerted an incoming indirect fire attack. Following procedure, he hit the ground and waited. 

"I wasn't comfortable in the mess hall tent," Ayvazian said. "I walked to the work area to get accountability of the team and a few seconds later a second CRAM alarm went off."

Ayvazian said he again hit the ground and when he looked up he saw the round explode.

"It landed in a crater that contained the shrapnel," he said.

He estimated that he was about 50 meters from the point of impact.

Ayvazian said he went to the battle tactical operations center to report that he saw the point of impact and escorted Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel to the site where they were able to identify the type of round and the point of origin. With that information, the FOB quick reaction force went to the point of origin where they found and seized the weapon used to launch the attack.

"My initial reaction was, 'Wow, that was pretty close'," he recalled. "A few hours later the gravity set in."

"People think that as logistics officers, we're 'in the rear with the gear', but that's not always the case," he added. "We're right out there with the Warfighter."