Col. Christopher Barnett and Maj. John Creel each have received the Distinguished Flying Cross medal for valor they displayed while flying their HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter during two separate combat missions in Afghanistan. The actions took place April 4 and May 19, 2009. On the first mission, Barnett and Creel flew through firefights and sandstorms near the town of Kajaki, braving severely reduced visibility and saving a total of 40 U.S. Special Forces soldiers and a member of the Afghan army in the process. During the second operation, which took place near the town of Marjeh, they made three flights into a Taliban stronghold to rescue injured soldiers. They also collaborated with ground-based air controllers, to locate and eliminate enemy positions. During the May 18 Pentagon ceremony, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz presented Barnett with a Bronze Star medal.