America's North Shore Journal

Air Force Commendation Medal with Valor

UPDATE: I thought she looked familiar. She was a long time local EMT, with a commercial service. That’s one reson she knew what to do and how to act. Once an EMT, always an EMT.

Democrat & Chronicle

Van Peursem worked for Monroe Ambulance for more than 20 years, but left a few years ago due to a neck injury. She was working as a stress-test technician at University Cardiovascular Associates in Brighton when she was deployed.

Her husband said she has always enjoyed helping others. “When you’re a medic and you have a good call, there’s a real rush of adrenaline,” he said. “It’s kind of a rush.”

But Luann’s voice was different when she called Pete after the attack. “She called me the next day and said, ‘In case you see it in the paper, I’m OK,’ ” he said. “I knew right away something was wrong because she never gets frazzled. I could tell something wasn’t right.”

He said his wife was in an office when the rocket hit. The outside of her office was heavily damaged by shrapnel.

“What if she wasn’t in the office? What if she got hurt?” Pete Van Peursem said. “I wasn’t worried about her until I got that first phone call three weeks ago. Nothing’s safe over there.”

Despite the close call, he predicts this won’t end his wife’s military career. “This will make her stronger,” he said. “She won’t retire until she has to retire, as long as she’s healthy and she can serve.”

[end update]

SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq – Master Sgt. Luann Van Peursem (right), 447th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, receives the Air Force Commendation Medal with Valor from Brig. Gen. Burton Field, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing commander, July 12 for providing first aid to Airmen injured by a rocket attack here in June.

Sergeant Van Peursem led the initial medical response for two Airmen critically injured by shrapnel from an exploding rocket. After the rocket hit outside her building she quickly responded to moaning and cries for help. As she was providing aid to the first Airman, she heard additional cries in the distance. She passed care of the first victim to others and ran to the other victim. By herself she moved him to a bunker for protection and rendered proper aid. She then managed the care for both victims until medical personnel arrived.

The Valor device is not for peacetime acts of service. The Valor decoration was awarded to Sergeant Van Peursem to recognize the selfless action of placing herself in harm’s way during an attack to provide aid to multiple injured Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Russell Wicke)

RNews

Luann was working in her office when the airport was hit by two bombs. She was shielded from the shrapnel, but two people under her command were hit and seriously wounded.

“She just kept her cool. Kept them stabilized got help and got them off to Germany. The doctor there credited them with saving those troops lives,” Van Puersem added.

Luann received more than a simple ‘thank you.’ Last week she was awarded the Commendation Medal with Valor.

“I started crying it was very emotional. But I’m not surprised. That’s just the way she is.”

Luann’s bravery and military service has inspired her two sons, Phil and Kyle, to join the Air force as well. While the rest of the Van Peursem’s serve the county, Pete is holding down the fort at home with pride and is hoping Luann comes home safe.

“I’m the type of guy where the cup’s half full. As long as I can talk to her and email her and know she’s okay,” he said.

Sunday was also Luann’s 53rd birthday. She’s scheduled to return back to Niagara Falls next month after a six month tour of duty.