Air National Guardsman at Robins Awarded Bronze Star

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  • By 13WMAZ web staff writer
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  A Georgia Air National Guardsman, stationed at Robins Air Force Base's 116th Air Control Wing, earned a Bronze Star for his efforts in Afghanistan.
Senior Master Sgt. James Love, with the 116th Civil Engineering Squadron, received the medal for extraordinary leadership and management skills.
Adjutant General of Georgia Major General Jim Butterworth presented Love with the honor, during a ceremony Friday morning. 
Love has deployed three times, but earned the recognition for his work from February to September of last year.
He supervised 131 people, tasked with rebuilding facilities and infrastructure in the war-torn country.
Love said they often worked in hostile conditions, dodging sniper fire at times.
He gave his team the credit for the recognition.
Love said, "We just gelled together as a real tight knit team. Everybody was dedicated to providing that service, and I'm just getting recognized for everything they've done already."
His commander Col. Kevin Clotfelter said Love earned the honor himself, but like every good leader, gives credit to his team, too.
Clotfelter said, "He's being very humble. It's an individual award, but of course, he's going to recognize the people he supervised."
Maj. Gen. Butterworth also recognized the 116th for winning the Air Force Outstanding Unit award for the 16th time. He said they've won it more times than another group.
Butterworth said, "They've delivered at every opportunity. They've delivered over 84,000 flying hours, combat flying hours. When the mission dictates, they're deploying. Back in the day, people thought the Air National Guard was a bunch of weekend warriors. The 116th has proven that is not the case in the 21st Century."