Rescue Wing Airman injured in Iraq, receives Purple Heart

  • Published
  • By Chance C. Babin
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  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 Sept. 21. 

Today Airman Lopes is in good condition after having minor surgery Sept. 27 for her injuries and is scheduled to receive a Purple Heart later on today 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. 

"At first I wasn't sure what happened. I heard it coming and remember turning toward it. I heard a boom and felt a compression wave go right through me. Initially, I thought I was on fire and dropped to the ground in case I had to put myself out, then I tasted blood in my mouth and within a second it hit me, 'I just got bombed!'" 

In less than a minute-and-a-half she was rushed to the medical facility on base and later evacuated to Balad Air Base, Iraq, where she had initial surgery. 

Airman Lopes was then evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, Sept. 23 and finally returned to the United States Tuesday as she was transferred to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Md., for continuing care. 

"Everywhere I have been people have been coming to see me..People I don't even know. It's so nice to have so many people care," said Airman Lopes. 

On Thursday, Brigadier Gen. Patrick A. Cord visited Airman Lopes. He is the Vice Commander of 10th Air Force, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. 

In addition to a slew of 920th leadership, on Sunday the 920th Rescue Wing Commander, Col. Steve Kirkpatrick will also pay a visit Airman Lopes himself.
In the meantime he said, "My thoughts and prayers are with (Airman Lopes) and I will make sure she gets the best care possible to pull through this." 

Prior to her mobilization to Iraq, Airman Lopes recently finished training to be a Tampa Bay, Fla. Police officer. When mobilized for war, she was part of a 13-person team from the 920th Security Forces Element on a 179-day tour at Kirkuk AB. They departed Patrick AFB Aug. 20. 

The Security Forces troops are performing air base ground defense duties while at Kirkuk AB, which is located north of Baghdad. Their duties include perimeter security, flight line security and quick reactionary force measures. 

"I'm relieved that (Airman Lopes) prognosis is good," said Col. Kirkpatrick, "You care about your people; its like family. I have full confidence the 920th support team will take very good care of her and her family." 

Airman Lopes is looking forward to getting through physical therapy and said she has no plans of getting out of the Air Force Reserve. "(This incident) is not going to keep me from doing this (performing her duty)," she said. 

The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving in the military. 

"Unbelievable," is how Airman Lopes described the honor of receiving it.