Maj. Brian M. Simmons was awarded the Bronze Star medal for exceptionally meritorious service Oct. 29.

Simmons, son of Robert and Deborah Simmons of Warsaw, has been in Iraq since January. He received the medal at Forward Operating Base Tallil from 1st Corps Support Command Commanding General Yves Fontaine.

Simmons was a military advisor to the Iraqi Security Forces, 2nd Motorized Transportation Regiment, where he was responsible for training, staffing and equipping the unit he mentored.

The 2nd includes 750 Iraqi soldiers, 300 vehicles and 900 weapon systems, according to the medal recommendation by LTC Edward Tatum.

Tatum, Simmons' supervisor, added Simmons completed more than 20 convoys in a hostile environment, with five of them coming under complex ambushes. His heroic actions and direction during these ambushes were responsible for no U.S. soldier casualties.

Simmons was instrumental in transferring equipment from Taji to An Numaniyah, living with the Iraqi soldiers.

"Major Simmons overcame difficult living conditions, lack of normal U.S. support and services and continual cultural and language barriers to help create the best Iraqi regiment in the New Iraqi Army," according to Tatum's recommendation.

Among other awards Simmons has received during his deployment are the Combat Action Badge and Joint Services Commendation Medal for his combat action against insurgent forces March 4, 2005.

Simmons is a 1984 graduate of Warsaw Community High School and a 1989 graduate from Purdue University, West Lafayette. He received his Army commission in 1987 from ROTC.

Simmons, his wife Abby and their four children are currently stationed in Oklahoma. [[In-content Ad]]