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Friday, July 3 2009
The Seymour Herald — Seymour, TN

stooksbury, seymour resident, honored with bronze star

wsi-or employee also recognized with ā€œvā€ device for valor

Submitted Photo
Richard Stooksbury
published: January 22 2008 09:32 PM updated:: January 23 2008 09:41 AM

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, 1st 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.

User Comments

#1 Proud in Seymout commented, on January 22, 2008 at 11:05 p.m.:

This is the kind of news that you should publish! We are very proud of you, Mr. Stooksbury and appreciate all that you do for your country.

#2 Honored commented, on January 23, 2008 at 9:59 a.m.:

I am so honored that I live in a community with a hero like this. Thank you so much for your service and thank you also to his family for letting him serve. God Bless you...

#3 Seymour865 commented, on January 23, 2008 at 4:22 p.m.:

Thank you for your service, and I thank all veterans

#4 Rob commented, on January 23, 2008 at 8:15 p.m.:

Thanks for your service and sacrifice to this great nation.

#5 Retired Military commented, on January 24, 2008 at 10:09 a.m.:

A Bronze Star with V, is a very high honor, in fact it may be the first for Sevier County since the Viet Nam War.

#6 jhow66 commented, on January 24, 2008 at 5:50 p.m.:

Proud of my son-in-law as we should be of all that serve.

#7 Rob R commented, on January 25, 2008 at 3:27 p.m.:

Having worked with Richard at Y-12 it didn't susprise me that he was honored in this way. He's always been a stand up guy who always placed others ahead of himself. The world needs a few more like Richard Stooksbury. God Bless

#8 Dano commented, on January 26, 2008 at 4:17 a.m.:

I don't know this man from Adam, but I'm very proud to know he lives amoung us.

Thank you for your service.

.

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