Altus Airman earns career enlisted aviator award

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WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Air Force officials announced the selection of three Airmen for the 2009 Staff Sgt. Henry E. "Red" Erwin Outstanding Career Enlisted Aviator of the Year Award July 1.

The recipients are:
--Senior Master Sgt. Michael A. Morris, of the 54th Air Refueling Squadron at Altus Air Force Base, Okla.,
--Tech. Sgt. Matthew E. Thompson, of the 4th Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and
--Senior Airman Joel E. Schorg, of the 53rd Airlift Squadron at Little Rock AFB, Ark.

"The annual Staff Sgt. Henry E. Erwin Award is named after a World War II B-29 radio operator/gunner and Medal of Honor recipient," said Chief Master Sgt. Victor Allen, the career enlisted aviator career field manager, Air Force Air, Space and Information Operations. "The award recognizes career enlisted aviators for their outstanding job accomplishments, demonstration of outstanding leadership, and sustained self-improvements in support of the enlisted aircrew operations career field."

Air Force officials have presented the Sergeant Erwin award annually since 1995. It recognizes nominees for their outstanding accomplishments, leadership abilities and self-improvement, Chief Allen said.

Sergeant Erwin received the nation's highest award for valor for his actions aboard a B-29 Superfortress April 12, 1945. His bomber was in a formation headed for an attack on a chemical plant at Koriyama, Japan. An Air Force fact sheet describing Sergeant Erwin's heroism can be found here.

(Sources compiled from Air Force News Agency. Air Force Enlisted Heritage Institute, and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.)