Proud Warrior SRA Anthony Pizzifred: Eagle Chapter Air Force Security Forces Association

Eagle Chapter

Air Force

Security Forces Association


Proud Warrior SRA Anthony Pizzifred:

	On March 13, 2004, then Airman First Class (A1C) Tony Pizzifred and his partner, A1C Joshua Beach's, 'routine' patrol became any thing but routine! They were on foot, patrolling an area in Southwest Asia when the next thing Tony recalled, he was laying on the ground. He had stepped on a Soviet-made PMN-2 personnel mine.

	A1C Beach took immediate first aid measures that are credited with saving Tony's life. Within a few hours of the explosion, A1C Pizzifred was aboard a C-17 Globemaster headed for Ramstein where he would be hospitalized at Landstuhl Army Regional Medical Center.

	Tony got his wish to remain on active duty in the Air Force. He now trains new Security Force members for the Air Force.

	Upon hearing about SRA Pizzifred's ordeal, Eagle Chapter developed the Proud Warrior Program.

	Defend America Article:

	"On Sept. 11, 2001 , I decided to join the U.S. Air Force. On Aug. 13, 2002, I left for Basic Military Training. A year and a half later, I found myself on Bagram Air Base, Afganistan, where I was deployed for four and a half months. Right before I was to leave, I stepped on a land mine and had my left leg blown off, on March 13, 2004. Today, I was told that my medical board met and I am returned to duty without any restrictions. So I am now leaving Walter Reed Army Medical Center, to go to Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and start my military career again. I plan on going back to Afghanistan in the near future and to do what I came in to do" To Read this Defend America Article, click here.

	Mar 30, 2005: KSAT.com News "Amputee Airman ready to return to action"

	Click here to read Presentation to Committee on Armed services Subcommittee on Military Personnel


	In the photo at left, Eagle Chapter Chairman, Lee Chambers, is accompanied during a visit of Proud Warrior Brian Kolfage by our first Proud Warrior honoree, Senior Airman Anthony (Tony) Pizzifred.	Then A1C Pizzifred receives the Purple Heart from Secretary of the Air Force James Roche and Air Force Chief of Staff, General John Jumper

	A Proud Warrior 'First' Family Portrait. (Left to right) Brig. Gen. James Shamess, then the HQ US Air Force Director of Security Forces, Eagle Chapter Treasurer, Ed Lawton, Eagle Chapter Chairman, Lee Chambers, Tony Pizzifred, and his mom, Ms Vicki Turnock, are shown at Walter Reed Army Medical Center prior to Tony's return to active duty. Tony is now a Security Forces Trainer. Tony returned to the DC area last Fall to run in the Army's 10-Miler; Click here for more

	Then-Maj. Andrew Lourake talks with Airman 1st Class Anthony Pizzifred about what to expect after his stitches are removed from his amputated leg. Pizzifred, a security forces member from the 5th Security Forces Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., lost his leg when he stepped on a land mine while on patrol at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.	Senior Airman Anthony Pizzifred fires blanks during a training exercise at Camp Bullis. He is preparing to take a series of physical fitness tests and hopes to return to combat. Click Here to read the MySanAntonio.com article.