Bronze Star rewards 100-hour effort

(EXCERPT) By Laurin Sellers |
Sentinel Staff Writer Posted August 29, 2003

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE -- Tech. Sgt. Alexander Del Valle was the first
air-traffic controller to arrive Feb. 27 at the tower just 34 miles
from the Iraqi border.

It was a critical pre-war period, and 15 other air-traffic controllers
were supposed to join Del Valle, who was assigned to the 45th
Operations Support Squadron.

But the others didn't come. Not the first day. Not the second. Not
even the third.

"Give me all you've got and wave the flag when you can't take any
more," Del Valle's commander told him.

For 100 straight hours, the 32-year-oldsoldier did the job of 16 men,
guiding planes in around-the-clock special-operations training flights
and ensuring a steady strategic deployment flow.

On Thursday, his efforts earned him the Bronze Star, one of the
military's most revered awards given for heroic or meritorious
achievements.

"Coffee was my best friend," Del Valle joked after receiving the medal
from Brig. Gen. J. Gregory Pavlovich, commander of the 45th Space
Wing, during a morning ceremony at Patrick Air Force Base.

Del Valle's sense of duty was even stronger than the java.

"I think that k...

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