Airman Receives Silver Star

An Air Force tactical air control specialist received the Silver Star medal Nov. 4, for heroism he displayed as he rescued two soldiers in 2009. Air Force Times reported that Airman 1st Class Benjamin Hutchins of the Fort Bragg, N.C.-based 14th Air Support Squadron braved enemy fire to save the soldiers, who had jumped into the frigid waters of the Bala Murghab River in Afghanistan to recover an aerial delivery. Hutchins fought off enemy attackers who shot at him and the soldiers as they were out in the open. He also provided information to air assets, which finally forced the attackers to abandon the area after a three-day fight.