Proud Warrior SRA Diane Lopes: Eagle Chapter Air Force Security Forces Association

Eagle Chapter

Air Force

Security Forces Association


Proud Warrior SRA Diane Lopes:

	Air Force Reservist Senior Airman Diane Lopes, a security forces apprentice with the 920th Rescue Wing here was wounded in action at Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq Sep 21, 2007.

	Today Airman Lopes is in good condition after having minor surgery Sept. 27 for her injuries and is scheduled to receive a Purple Heart on the 28th of Sep, 2008 from Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, Chief of Air Force Reserve Command.

	She and her fellow security forces comrades were in Iraq less than a month when Airman Lopes was struck by enemy shrapnel in the right arm and left leg while walking on base after a mortar attack. She was off duty at the time.

	Air Force News Article:

	Jan 29, 2008: Airman attends presidential address
	Sep 27, 2007: Rescue Wing Airman injured in Iraq, receives Purple Heart

	In a ceremony on Friday, September 28, 2007, Lt Gen John A Bradley, Chief of Air Force Reserves, HQ United States Air Force, The Pentagon Washington DC, presented Senior Airman Diane Lopes with a Purple Heart ribbon. Holding the Purple Heart Citation in the photo (left) along with Diane, Lt Gen Bradley made the presentation during her recovery at Walter Reed Army Regional Medical Center in Washington DC.	Senior Airman Diane Lopes, an Air Force Reserve security forces apprentice with the 920th Rescue Wing, smiles for a photo opportunity at all-terrain vehicle training at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., before deploying to Iraq in August 2007.

	Senior Airman Diane Lopes, a reservist with the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., displays her Air Force pride while rehabilitating from a rocket attack. The security forces specialist was wounded Sept. 21 at Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq just four weeks after being deployed there. The cast on her left leg protects the broken tibia and fibula beneath, a result of shrapnel from the blast. She said she put the Air Force logo on her cast because of the many Soldiers and Marines there with her at Walter Reed. "I had to represent," she said.	Brigadier General Mary K. Hertog, Director Security Forces, HQ U. S. Air Force, attended the ceremony. General Hertog is shown in the photo (center) holding the Purple Heart Citation with Senior Airman Lopes (at left), and Lt Gen Bradley at far right.

	Air Force Reservist Senior Airman Diane Lopes, a security forces specialist with the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. receives the Purple Heart Sept. 28 from the Chief of Air Force Reserve Command, Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley bedside at Walter Reed Army Medical Facility in Maryland. Airman Lopes was struck by enemy shrapnel in the right arm and left leg while walking on base. Her doctors at Walter Reed estimate she'll make a full recovery. But she still has 10 weeks of physical therapy ahead of her.	Air Force Reserve Senior Airman Diane Lopes, a security forces specialist with the 920th Rescue Wing, was deployed to Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq only four weeks before being wounded in a rocket attack. Now recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Md., the Tampa resident joined the 920th two years ago and has no plans to leave. The attack, she said, won't chase her away. "It's not going to keep me from doing this," she said of her job as a reservist.

	Air Force Reservist Senior Airman Diane Lopes (center) poses with Chief of the Air Force Reserve Command, Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley (right of Airman Lopes) and 920th Rescue Wing senior leadership, after receiving the Purple Heart bedside. General Bradley presented the medal Sept. 28 to Airman Lopes in her hospital room at Walter Reed Army Medical Facility in Maryland. Airman Lopes is a security forces apprentice with the 920th RQW, Patrick AFB, Fla. She is rehabilitating after being wounded during a mortar attack at Kirkuk AB, Iraq Sept. 21. Airman Lopes was only the fifth woman in the history of the Air Force Reserve to receive a Purple Heart. However, her reaction after receiving the honor was in perspective to her fate. "I'm just happy I was here for that ceremony," she said.