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Friday, December 1, 2000
Maj. Erik Gunhus cited as top
professional in public affairs

By Jon R. Anderson
Stars and Stripes

HEIDELBERG, Germany — Army public affairs officer Maj. Erik Gunhus arrived in Macedonia on the same day three 1st Infantry Division soldiers were captured by Yugoslav troops in the opening phase of NATO’s air campaign against Slobodan Milosevic.

Answering the tough questions posed by news agencies from around the world from that first tumultuous day, Gunhus would remain in Macedonia through the air strikes and would be among the first U.S. troops into Kosovo as NATO rolled in.

Acting as the Army’s pointman spokesman for just about every major flare-up in Kosovo since then, to this day Gunhus has more time in the Balkan hot spot than perhaps any other soldier in the U.S. Army.

It’s easy to see why the Army’s top general in Europe calls Gunhus the Military Professional of the Year in public affairs. Gunhus was among the 58 soldiers and Army civilians honored by Gen. Montgomery C. Meigs, commander of U.S. Army, Europe and host of the 37th Annual Incentive Awards Ceremony in Heidelberg, Germany, on Thursday.

"We couldn’t accomplish this mission without you," Meigs told the honorees and some 300 well-wishers and dignitaries attending the ceremony. "I do understand what you do for us," he said, before handing out plaques and posing for pictures.

The awardees are:

Outstanding Accomplishment in Accident-Free Driving

  • Civilian Driver: Gunther Kiefer, 6966th Transportation Truck Terminal, 37th Transportation Command, 21st Theater Support Command.

  • Military driver: Sgt. Robert Queen, 69th Transportation Company, 28th Transportation Battalion, 37th Transportation Command, 21st TSC.

Outstanding Contribution to Accident Prevention

  • Team Award to the Plumber Shop 280th Base Support Battalion, 98th Area Support Group. Team members: Bernhard Raupach, Guenther Heinzmann, Guenther Ludwig, Guenther Gabler, Robert Harth and Alfred Bergner.

Outstanding Contribution to Operational Safety

  • Team Award to the Environment of Care Team, US Army MEDAC, Würz-burg, Europe Regional Medical Command. Team members: Thomas Zirkelbach, James Medbourn, David Little, CW3 Charles Woods, 1st Lt. Kenneth Spicer, 1st Lt. Jennifer Tamburino, 1st Lt. Carolyn MacKinnon, Rudy Stone, Wayen Gokey, and Ethel McClain.

Outstanding Unit Accomplishment in DUI and Vehicle Accident Prevention

  • Unit award to the 28th Transportation Platoon, 22nd ASG.

Outstanding Contribution to Force Protection

  • William J. Souviney Jr., 22nd ASG.

Outstanding Accomplishment in Information Management:

Award for an Information Management Professional:

  • Group award to Virginia Wells and Sgt. Maj. Daniel J. Hingtgen, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Information Management, HQ, USAREUR.

Award for a Non-IM Professional:

  • Norbert Biedermann, Department of Public Works, 409th BSB, 100th ASG.

Outstanding Contribution to the USAREUR Separate or Recycle Trash Program

  • Harald Thal, DPW, 417th BSB, 98th ASG.

Outstanding Contribution to the USAREUR Environmental Program

  • Individual award to Kevin Shao, DPW, 414th BSB, 104th ASG.

  • Team award to 409th BSB, 100 ASG: Lt. Col. Robert Shoemaker, Steven Dunham, Manfred Rieck, Wolfgang Fischer, Johannes Waldmann, Herbert Salavs, Nancy Young, Hannelore Yankers, Hans Graml, Joseph Weber and Guenther Thannhäuser.

Outstanding Energy and Water Conservation Management Achievement

  • Hermann Mees, DPW, 280th BSB, 98th ASG.

Outstanding Contribution to Quality and Productivity Improvement

  • Robert Weissenberg, General Support Center-Europe, 21st TSC.

Outstanding Employee with Disability Award

  • Rudolf Suelzle, DPW, 100th ASG.

Outstanding Contribution to the EEO Program (by individuals outside EEO profession)

  • David Rose, Director of Logistics, 235th BSB, 98th ASG.

Outstanding Contribution to the Civilian Human Resource Management (CHRM)

Program Award for Management Support for CHRM Program

  • Ann Cantrell, 417th BSB, 98th ASG.

Award for Excellence in Personnel Technical Expertise

  • Cornelia Ottnat, Kaiserslautern CPAC, USAREUR Civilian Human Resource Management Agency.

Award for Excellence in Personnel Service

  • Karl Kohl, Grafenwöhr CPAC, USAREUR Civilian Human Resource Management Agency.

Outstanding Contribution to Acquisition Excellence

  • Civilian honoree: Jeffrey Hook, HQ, US Army Contracting Command, Europe.

  • Military honoree: Lt. Col. William W. Stevenson, HQ, US Army Contracting Command, Europe.

Outstanding Contribution to Contingency Contracting Support

  • Civilian honoree: Peter Kowalski, HQ, US Army Contracting Command, Europe.

  • Military honoree: Capt. Mark E. Phillips, HQ, US Army Contracting Command, Europe.

Outstanding Contribution in Public Affairs

  • Military Professional of the Year: Maj. Erik Gunhus, 1st Infantry Division, V Corps.

  • Civilian Professional of the Year: Marie Lise Baneton, 80th ASG.

  • Best PAO for Single Event: George Ohl, 280th BSB, 98th ASG.

Outstanding Suggesters of the Year

  • Individual suggester: CW3 Kenneth R. Deans, 1st Armored Division, V Corps.

  • Group suggesters: Roland Sachenmeister and Brian Jenkins, 51st Maintenance Battalion, 29th Support Group, 21st TSC.

CG Best Steward Award FY00

  • Melanie Barbret, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, HQ, USAREUR.

Recipients of The Meritorious Civilian Service Award medal

  • Craig J. Walmsley, U.S. Army Claims Service Europe, Office of the Judge Advocate, HQ, USAREUR.

  • Federico Valadez, Postal Operations Division, 1st Personnel Command, ODCSPER, HQ, USAREUR.

Also recognized for outstanding performance were:

  • Heinz-Walter Schneider, 1st Transportation Movement Control Agency, 21st Theater Support Command.

  • Michael Riedl, 1st Transportation Movement Control Agency, 21st Theater Support Command.

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