Richfield Reaper December 24, 2007
Richfield soldier honored in Iraq
By David Anderson
Pfc. Trevor Barney, Richfield, was one of two soldiers from Utah honored for uncovering an escape attempt by enemy prisoners at Camp Bucca, Iraq.
Barney, along with Sgt. Thomas Payeur, Kearns, both of 1st Battalion, 145th Field Artillery, Utah National Guard, received the Joint Service Achievement Medal Nov. 27.
Gen. David Petraeus, commanding general of Multinational Forces-Iraq, personally presented the medals to the two soldiers at a combined awards ceremony.
The Joint Service Achievement Medal is awarded to those members of the United States Armed Forces who have distinguished themselves by outstanding performance of duty or meritorious achievement while assigned to a joint activity.
The 450 soldiers of the 1-145th deployed in June 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit is providing support to detention operations at the camp in southern Iraq, which has the capacity to hold up to 6,000 prisoners.
According to the GlobalSecurity.org Web site, Camp Bucca is the coalition's primary facility for enemy prisoners of war.
“The soldiers of the 1-145th are doing an outstanding job here at Camp Bucca,” said Barney and Payeur's commander, 1st Lt. Justin Christensen, of Lehi. “And, their diligence is being noticed.”
Trevor is a son of David and Jolaine Barney, Richfield.
© Copyright 2007, Richfield Reaper
