Armed Forces News

Two pilots from the Air Force’s 354th Fighter Squadron were awarded Distinguished Flying Cross medals during a March 2 ceremony at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., for heroism they displayed during combat operations last May. Maj. Tyler Schultz and Capt. Samantha Harvey earned the awards while flying A-10 Thunderbolt II fighters in support of Army operations near al-Shaddadi, Syria, according to official records. A joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) called for the planes, requesting close-air support for soldiers who were surrounded and being subjected to intense fire from enemy attackers.

“Talking with the JTAC, I learned what fear sounds like,” Harvey said during the award ceremony.
Once they located the site of the fighting, Harvey descended in a show of force. Meanwhile, Schultz conducted four strafing runs of the area. Ultimately, 50 U.S. troops were able to return to safety without sustaining a single casualty.