  Minot AFB medic receives combat medals  January 20, 2013 By
KILEY SWOPES , Minot Daily News  MINOT AIR FORCE BASE During a
recent deployment to Afghanistan, Tech. Sgt. Shawn Owens,
operational medicine flight chief with the 5th Medical
Operations Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, went above the call
of duty to defend himself and his platoon under close enemy
fire, earning him combat military decorations.  Owens was
attached to the 2nd Platoon, 2668th Transportation Company, as a
medic from July 26 to Sept. 26, 2012.  While enroute on Aug. 2,
a rocket-propelled grenade flew over the trail vehicle Owen was
in, landing 9 feet away, crushing the wall beside him.
"Immediately after the blast, I had a massive headache, nausea,
ringing in my ears and was disoriented," Owens stated. "Through
the disorientation, I medically assessed everyone in the vehicle
and treated them."  The following day the platoon came under
attack again and Owens suffered two more blows to his head from
rocket-propelled grenade impacts. On