Tewksbury Hero Honored For Service In Afghanistan

(Editor's note: The following information was submitted by the United States Army Office of Public Affairs.)

A Tewksbury resident was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal for service during an award ceremony on Camp Julien-Dubs here Jan. 10, 2012.

Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Lombardi has served as the Camp Julien-Dubs Base Support Group noncommissioned officer in charge for Task Force Yankee, 26th “Yankee” Brigade, Massachusetts Army National Guard, in Kabul since April 15, 2011.

The Joint Service Commendation Medal is awarded in the name of the Secretary of Defense to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement or service.

Lombardi, who is a military police officer and has been serving for 17 years as a guardsman, was responsible for the operations of the base camp at Julien-Dubs and served as a police advisory team squad leader.

When he is not serving in this role, Lombardi works as trooper for the Massachusetts State Police in Leominster, Mass.

Lombardi graduated from in Tewksbury, Mass., and has an associate degree in criminal justice from Middlesex Community College.

This deployment is Lombardi’s third during the Global War on Terror. In 2002, he deployed to Pakistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and in 2007, he deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lombardi will return to Massachusetts next month after successfully completing a tour of duty in Kabul, Afghanistan and will reunite with his wife, Aliki; and children Joseph, Jason and Jaxson.

Discussing his feelings about returning home Lombardi said, ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­“My service would not be possible with the love and support my family and friends have given me. My wife is my hero. She makes deployments look easy, dealing with three small children and working full time.”

As the Kabul Base Cluster Command, Task Force Yankee provides security, service, support and policy guidance for more than 11,000 service members, Coalition Forces and contractors.