I know I am going to get a lot of grief with my following comments, but-This is what I have despised about medals since its conception. This whole CREW should receive the same medal. Period. The fact that the copilot and SMAs only received an Air Medal, suggests that they were not essential and played no role in the mission. This was a crew event, they act as one, with one leader. Individually, the mission is a failure, together, it is successful. Thankfully on all my missions where we received medals, the whole crew was awarded the same medal.
The Air Force really needs to teach how to render a proper salute...geez.
I’ll add my catty remark - office depot id badge clips? Are the presenters that fumble-fingered?
Cousin; William Degnan Jr, got DFC after being shot down over Germany and making his way back uncaptured through France back to England working with French resistance