Chad Vice of Cow Island is proud he recently received the Bronze Star from the United States Air Force, but the one who he felt really deserved the medal is his wife Julie. So, not long after receiving the medal, he took it off and pinned it on her.

“I did my job,” said Vice, who is a 1993 Kaplan High graduate. “It’s my wife who deserved this medal. Our lives came to a stop. When I would call her (from Iraq), she never told me if she was having a bad day. I was not able to be there with her and family. It was a lot hard for her.”

Vice, 35, received the Bronze Star after spending 182 days in Iraq. He was sent there as a Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI). His assignment was to question terrorists who were captured–a job that came with a lot of risk. Vice was not able to speak about his assignment.

The award ceremony was held recently at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo. His parents, Gary and Mamie Babineaux of Cow Island, attended the ceremony.

“It was a very touching ceremony, and it is amazing to see the wonderful man he has grown up to be,” said the parents in a typed letter. “His co-workers are a close-knit group of friends who support each other. When one of them is given assignments, the others that remain here tend to the families in their time of need.”

The Bronze Star Medal is the fourth highest award for bravery, heroism and meritorious service.

The medal is awarded to members of all branches of military service and may be awarded either for combat heroism or for meritorious service.

As for the future of Vice? He has been in the Air Force for 16 years, and he plans to retire at 20 years.