Air Force officials awarded Staff Sgt. Gene Jameson a bronze star with valor at Robins Air Force Base Thursday.

While stationed at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan a year ago, Jameson was on hand for an insurgent rocket attack that started a massive fire. As the flames advanced, he went out to help.

“I stumbled, literally tripped over two crates of anti-tank rockets and grenades," Jameson said. "We tried to relocate them, but as soon as we did, our only exit…a building collapsed right on our exit, so we couldn’t get out.”

Jameson and a fellow airman managed to drag the crates through a narrow passageway to safety. If the munitions had exploded, everyone within a mile could have been killed.

"They ask me if I ever think about it, and I say 'yeah, every time I barbecue, every time I smell that smell.' So yeah, you think about it. I try not to think about it too much."

By the time Jameson finished moving the crates, his boots were melted from the heat. His actions saved an estimated 50 lives.

Tags: Warner Robins, Robins Air Force Base, Afghanistan, Adam Ragusea, bronze star