CSAF awards Purple Heart to Altus AFB OSI agent in Afghanistan Published March 14, 2007 By Michael Fletcher 97th Air Mobility Wing ALTUS AFB, Okla. -- Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Air Force Chief of Staff, presented OSI Special Agent Brent Howell, AFOSI Detachment 422, Altus AFB, Okla., with the Purple Heart during a ceremony, Feb. 2, at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Special Agent Howell sustained injuries from a rocket-propelled grenade attack during a combat patrol in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army last December. Special Agent Howell and his Army escorts were returning from a forward operating base at the mouth of the Tagab Valley when insurgents attacked the three-vehicle convoy. Three rocket propelled gernades were fired at the convoy and one struck the vehicle he was riding in. The blast penetrated the armor and detonated, sending shrapnel throughout the vehicle and injuring the OSI agent. Special Agent Howell gave credit to his team for their efforts, as they engaged the enemy and survived the encounter. "Agent Howell has been an extraordinary performer, both here at Altus Air Force Base and deployed abroad, conducting critical investigations and dangerous operations to protect Air Force resources and, more importantly, our people," said Special Agent Christopher Allen, AFOSI Detachment 422 commander. The ceremony was attended by several high-ranking officials, as well as members of SA Howell's deployed unit, AFOSI EDet 2405.