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908th Airlift Wing sergeant stops detainee escape

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jay Ponder
  • 908th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
"He just looked suspicious," remarked Staff Sgt. Otis T. Luke, referring to the Iraqi detainee he had prevented from escaping a medical facility.

A 908th Airlift Wing medical staff sergeant, Luke was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal in late December for thwarting a detainee's escape attempt while deployed in June.

Sergeant Luke, assigned to the 908th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, worked as a medic in the emergency department in the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. While on duty, he recognized something wasn't right with a patient he was working with.

The patient, a detainee, had been in before but with a different identification badge, according to Sergeant Luke.

He verified the detainee was using a different name and registration number by locating and searching past registration logs for previous visits. The alert medic's suspicions were confirmed.

The detainee, who was a high-value asset with a history of violent attacks against coalition forces, had switched ID badges with another detainee scheduled for an early release the next day.

Col. Brett J. Clark, 908th Airlift Wing commander, said he was proud of Sergeant Luke's vigilance and situational awareness. "Because of Sergeant Luke's cool-headed thinking, there is a terrorist that is not on the loose now," he added.

"Sergeant Luke is an outstanding professional and a very dedicated Airman," said Col. Lisa A. Naftzgerkang, Luke's immediate commander in the 908th ASTS. "He represents all the fine medics in the ASTS who volunteer to treat our heroes in the (area of responsibility), and they are, themselves, heroes for their dedication to duty. It is a pleasure to serve with Sergeant Luke."

Luke's certificate accompanying his achievement medal read, "Sergeant Luke's attention to detail and quick action prevented the inadvertent release of a potentially dangerous individual and further risk of attacks on American service members."

"He certainly deserves to be called a hero in my book," remarked the 908th wing commander.