FReeper Canteen - The Air Force Cross - November 28, 2005

Various - linked in thread | Grape Ape

[StarCMC]

 

 

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The FReeper Canteen
looks at
The Air Force Cross

 

1. Description: The Air Force Cross consists of a bronze cross with an oxidized satin finish. Centered on the obverse of the cross is a gold-plated American bald eagle, wings displayed against a cloud formation, (as used on the seal of the Air Force). This design is encircled by a laurel wreath in green enamel, edged in gold. The reverse of the cross is blank and suitable for engraving.

2. Ribbon: The Ribbon has a very wide center stripe of Brittany blue with narrow stripes of white and red at the edges. Almost identical to the Distinguished Service Cross, except for the lighter blue center stripe, indicating the close connection of these awards.

3. Criteria: Awarded for extraordinary heroism, not justifying the award of a Medal of Honor, to any person, who while serving with the U.S. Air Force while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States in not a belligerent party.

4. Background: Designed by Eleanor Cox, an employee of the Air Force and was sculpted by Thomas Hudson Jones of the Institute of Heraldry. The Air Force Cross was established by Congress, Public Law 88-593, on July 6, 1960, amended Section 8742 of Title 10, U.S. Code to change the designation of "Distinguished Service Cross" to "Air Force Cross" in case of awards made under Air Force Authority. This cross, therefore, is the Air Force version of the Distinguished Service Cross. The first award of the Air Force Cross was a posthumous presentation to Maj. Rudolf Anderson Jr., For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy from 15 October 1962 to 27 October 1962. The action took place during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Cross was presented by President Kennedy to the widow of the major at the White House.

 

 

• A Total of 191 Air Force Crosses have been Awarded

  • Three Vietnam War recipients earned TWO Air Force Crosses

  • One Vietnam War recipient earned THREE Air Force Crosses

• This list represents 187 individual men who received the Air Force Cross

  • Two WWII pilots receiving late awards were presented the Air Force Cross

  • The first AFC was awarded for a flight over Cuba during the Missile Crisis

  • One Air Force Cross recipient was ALSO awarded the Medal of Honor

• 24 Air Force Cross recipients were POWs returned alive after the war.

• 48 Air Force Crosses were presented posthumously

  • 28 of these Posthumous awards were to heroes Missing in Action and presumed dead

•   2 Air Force Cross recipients were Killed in Action AFTER their AFC action

• 22 Air Force Crosses have been awarded to Air Force ENLISTED MEN

  • Twelve of these 22 enlisted men served as PJs (Pararescue)

• 13 Air Force Crosses have been awarded to graduates of the US Air Force Academy

   

The Air Force Cross awarded Airman William Pitsenbarger was upgraded to the Medal of Honor on December 8, 2000 and is not counted in the above totals.

This information from Home of the Heroes.

WARNING:  MAJOR HANKIE ALERT!

Hero awarded Air Force Cross

by Terry Walker
377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

09/16/02 - KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFPN) -- Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham, a pararescueman who lost his life in Afghanistan while saving 10 lives and making it possible for seven others who were killed to come home, was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross here Sept. 13.

The Air Force Cross is awarded for extraordinary heroism while engaged in action against an enemy of our nation. It is second only to the Medal of Honor.

"We gather to salute his bravery and to reward his heroism," said Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James Roche. "We gather to pay tribute to an airman who, on the field of battle, not only gave his life serving his nation, but also gave his life serving his fellow Americans."

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper presented the Air Force Cross to Cunningham's wife, Theresa. Cunningham's parents, Lawrence and Jackie Cunningham, also received medals from Jumper.

"In the frailty of our human existence we are ill equipped to express the extremes of our emotions," Jumper said. "For in the peak of our love or the depths of our sorrow, we have only feeble words that never truly capture the peaks and valleys of our feelings.

"I stand before you today in the humble attempt to assemble the words to honor a hero, knowing in advance that my attempt will fall short of the tribute that is his due."

Cunningham, a Carlsbad, N.M., native, joined the Air Force's elite combat rescue program and graduated pararescue technical training here in June 2001. He was deployed to Southwest Asia in February 2002.

On March 4, Cunningham was the primary Air Force combat search and rescue medic assigned to a quick reaction force in Afghanistan. The force was sent to rescue two American servicemen evading capture in austere terrain occupied by al-Qaida and Taliban forces.

Before landing, his MH-47E Chinook helicopter received rocket-propelled grenade and small-arms fire, disabling the aircraft and forcing it to crash-land. Crewmembers formed a hasty defense and immediately suffered three fatalities and five critical casualties.

The citation accompanying Cunningham's Air Force Cross reads, "Despite effective enemy fire, and at great risk to his own life, Airman Cunningham remained in the burning fuselage of the aircraft in order to treat the wounds. As he moved his patients to a more secure location, mortar rounds began to impact within 50 feet of his position.

"Disregarding this extreme danger, he continued the movement and exposed himself to enemy fire on seven separate occasions. When the second casualty collection point was also compromised, in a display of uncommon valor and gallantry, Airman Cunningham braved an intense small arms and rocket-propelled grenade attack while repositioning the critically wounded to a third collection point."

The citation continues, "Even after he was mortally wounded and quickly deteriorating, he continued to direct patient movement and transferred care to another medic. In the end, his distinct efforts led to the successful delivery of 10 gravely wounded Americans to life-saving medical treatment."

In remarks that seemed to capture Cunningham's spirit, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Gerald Murray, said, "The former Navy petty officer considered joining the SEALS, but became an Air Force PJ. His reasoning? While other special operators search and destroy, PJs search and save."

Cunningham was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery on March 11. (Courtesy of Air Force Materiel Command News Service)

 

To read more about this Airman, including a poem written by his brother, click here.
And be warned, you'll need your hankie.

 

Please remember: 

The Canteen exists to support our military heroes serving all over the world and their families.  There are lots of places around Free Republic to talk about politics and debate your views.  Please try to keep it out of the Canteen.  We want to keep the Canteen a place where the guys and gals who are serving can sit down, kick their shoes off and relax and not have to keep their guard up. 
Thanks for your help! 
Now go out there and have FUN!!!!   
*HUGS!*  

 

 

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

I called BJ last night and woke her up...but all was well with them. Oh, no report from tx. Program repeats at 7:30p Texas time.

[luvie]

Holy cats! No wonder you're excited. Two Ollie experiences in one month! Wow! How lucky they were! WOOOOHOOOO is right!

[Kathy in Alaska]

I have stockings to fill. The original job is just about finished, but I misunderestimated the amount of chocolates needed. Want the same kind.

[luvie]

Thanks for calling them Kathy. It's good to know that they are okay.

Thanks for the heads-up...I usually don't watch it if tx. doesn't have a report. Guess I'm a bit biased.

[Kathy in Alaska]

U.S. Army soldiers, assigned at Forward Operating Base Shkin, Afghanistan, enjoy Thanksgiving dinner and a visit from Command Sgt. Maj. Lunisolua Savusa, Combined Joint Task Force-76, Nov. 24, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tara Teel

Command Sgt. Maj. Luniasolua Savusa, Combined Joint Task Force-76, takes a turn juicing the holiday pig (WOOHOO!) at Fire Base Lwara, Afghanistan, on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tara Teel

[luvie]

You're really having fun doing these stockings, aren't you. They are going to be sooooo appreciated!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hope....I hope AfghanBoy was somewhere so he could partake.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jason Kayima, Combined Joint Task Force-76 commander, serves soldiers at Forward Operating Base Orgun-E, Afghanistan, Thanksgiving dinner, Nov. 24, 2005. The spread included turkey, pork, mashed potatoes, candied yams, pumpkin pie and more. U.S. Army photo by Air Force Senior Airman Vanessa Walsh

U.S. Army soldiers, assigned to the 173d Airborne Brigade, enjoy Thanksgiving dinner at Forward Operating Base Shkin, Afghanistan, Nov. 24, 2005, with the Command Sgt. Maj. Lunisolua Savusa, Combined Joint Task Force-76. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tara Teel

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hope....I hope AfghanBoy was somewhere so he could partake.

U.S. Army Spc. Jennifer Martin (left), from the 18th Engineer Brigade, Heidelberg, Germany; and U.S. Army Sgt. Anthony Anderson, from the Headquarters Support Company, Southern European Task Force, Vicenza, Italy, enjoy a Thanksgiving feast at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Nov. 24, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Adrian Schulte

[Kathy in Alaska]

OK, now I'm gone.

[Coop]

Coop maybe we all can go to the restaurant where they buy our Troops dinner. That was your post right? What was the name of that place again? I tried to tell my sister who lives there but I couldn't recall the name. Thanks!

Sounds like a great idea! The restaurant is Fran O'Brien's Steakhouse

[AZamericonnie]

Thirty houses....oh my! My heart goes out to all affected! I hope the move happens soon!

[Coop]

And I'd get to carry my sign to the Walter Reed FReep myself! WOOHOO!!!

Come do that anyway. We'd love to have you join us!

[Coop]

August?? (June and July are somewhat busy for me)

August? I pray to God that we are not still doing these *&$#@%@! counterprotests in August.

[Soaring Feather]

Suffer not with grief? I fear
the royal mind does not see clear,

As clearly as the magic eye
my lady sees the guard
soaring in the mighty sky
upon his dragon on the wind
the tears to dry on the eyes
of lady fair in her lair

Her bodyguard I would ransom,
with payment and a reward so handsome,
I mend the riven weave of Wyrd
the mending must be seared,
and not unfinished to be unmade.

The dragon is the body guard
his wisdom handed down the ages
of darkened years with fright and plague
he offers forth his mystical deeds.

Return her to the glade,
to secret places under shade,
her watch to be kept
guard and ward should not be swept
aside so cavalier.

The knight is not a cavalier
nor his actions come to question.
My Lady, is safely secure in the glade
hidden in the cove away from the main gate
the Dragon Master foretold.
He dug the entrance with his claws
the treasure to hide for decades
in his heart there beats the sound
of My Lady softly humming.

For how can dance wend on its way
if somewhere a charge falls prey
to woven spell, when the nap is stroked,
the weave returned and spell bespoke,

My Lady weaves the mat for him his treasure
to stow away, the golden hearted, treasured one
will fly another day.

Nay, say I! the needle thread
shall make the knotted nap to leave,
elf return, pixie sing,
flight of fairy around the ring,
make the heart to sing once again!

The needle thread holds gold for
the stitching to begin
she sings, she sings, once again,
the metamorphose complete
and the Dragon Master near her.

[luvie]

I hope that I will have that chance. Just to be able to show those heroes how much they're loved would be the greatest honor! Y'all in that area are so lucky to be able to do that every Friday!

[La Enchiladita]

Saturday would work for me, if you're connecting here. Let me know...

[La Enchiladita]

Thank you for today's thread, Star, about the Air Force Cross and the moving story of an American hero, Jason D. Cunningham.. Many owe a great debt of gratitude to this hero. May God bless his family.

[StarCMC]

LOL - yeah - the moonbats will stay inside in comfort I'm sure. Too bad our heroes don't have that luxury, huh?

[Coop]

I wasn't referring to the weather, but rather the length of this abysmal blood dance. It's already been going on since March (IIRC).

[Lady Jag]

Welcome back! Sounds like a super Thanksgiving.