stooksbury, seymour resident, honored with bronze star

Wackenhut Services, Inc.—Oak Ridge Team (WSI-OR) employees have the honor of working with real American heroes—former military, police officers, firefighters and others who have served their communities and their nation.  One WSI-OR employee was recently honored for his service to our country.

Richard Stooksbury, senior security planner for Wackenhut Services, Inc.—Oak Ridge Team, received the Bronze Star Medal, with “V” device for valor, at a recent ceremony held at the Sergeant First Class Steven Kennedy, Tennessee Army National Guard Armory in Lenoir City, Tennessee.

The award was presented by Major General Gus L. Hargett, The Adjutant General of the Tennessee National Guard.

The Bronze Star Medal was established in 1944 and is awarded to a soldier who has distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service. The “V” device for valor signifies that the bronze star has been awarded for heroism.

Sergeant First Class Stooksbury was a platoon sergeant with D Company, 1^st Squadron, 278th Regimental Combat Team, when insurgents ambushed and attacked his unit near Balad Ruz, Iraq, on April 4, 2005.  While one member of the unit was fatally wounded during the battle, Sergeant First Class Stooksbury braved enemy fire while directing a counter-attack and assisting in the evacuation of several wounded soldiers.  His heroic actions that day were instrumental in saving American lives and ultimately leading to the defeat of the enemy forces.

Three other soldiers from the unit were also honored for their actions during the battle.

“I am honored to call Richard a colleague and to have the opportunity to work with someone who I consider to be a true American hero,” said John Burleson, WSI-OR General Manager. “It is an honor to work with all the former and current members of the military employed at WSI-OR and I salute all of them for their service to our country.”  

Stooksbury and his wife have three daughters and live in Seymour, Tennessee.

Wackenhut and its approximately 900 employees provide security support services for the 33,725-acre Oak Ridge Reservation which includes the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the East Tennessee Technology Park, the Federal Office Building Complex and the Y-12 National Security Complex.