Posted on 11/21/2014 7:06:37 AM PST by w1n1
As bullets cracked around his head, Air Force Master Sgt. Thomas Case stayed cool and directed pinpoint airstrikes on Taliban positions less than a stones throw away.
With two foreign fighters coming at the commander of the Army unit to which Case was assigned as a joint terminal attack controller, he shielded the officer with his body and took them down with his rifle.
For his heroism fulfilling both the air and ground aspects of the JTACs job during a battle on July 16 and 17, 2009, Case on Thursday became just the third airman to be awarded a second Silver Star medal. Read the rest of Case's heroism here.
There are still heroes among us. Kids need to idolize them rather than music, movie, and sports stars.
Congratulations to another of our outstanding servicemen!
Awesome courage under fire!
Airtight Case
And gives credit to the aircrew. THIS is a guy I’d follow.
Colonel, USAFR
wow. Kudos to the airmen above and below.
I believe he the the first Airman SINCE 9/11 to receive a second Silver Star.
Sad, but the AF tends not to award medals. Many deserve them though.
Sounds like he deserved it. That gunship aircrew did a heckof a job too.
Sgt. Case, I’m humbled to salute the same flag as you.
I know that the CIB (Combat Infantryman Badge) is an Army-only award but with the change in tactics and with stories like this, should not there be a military-wide award for those who are assigned to where they hear the bullet’s zip?
My late father was very proud of his WW2 & Korea CIBs and wanted recognition for the Medics who were denied such because they were not Infantry. If I am out-of-date, please inform me, but our current combat roles seem to deny those in other branches the earned honor invested in the CIB.
The AF has a new, post 9/11 medal, The Combat Action Medal, that would seem to meet this need. However, I do not see the Master Sergeant wearing it so I’m not sure of its award criteria.
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