Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz will award two Distinguished Flying Crosses each to Col. Christopher Barnett and Maj. John Creel, both HH-60G Pave Hawk pilots, for their heroism and bravery in two battles in Afghanistan in 2009, announced Air Force officials. The ceremony will take place at the Pentagon on May 18, they said Tuesday. On April 4, 2009, Barnett was mission commander and Creel was mission pilot in the same Pave Hawk, Shocker 35. They “flew through multiple firefights and a blinding sandstorm” to support a special forces convoy under attack near Kajaki. Their actions helped save the lives of one Afghan soldier and 40 special forces soldiers, state their citations. Both Barnett and Creel will receive a DFC with Valor for this mission. On May 19-20, 2009, Barnett was mission commander and Creel was mission pilot in Pedro 35. They flew into a Taliban stronghold in Marjeh with another Pave Hawk, Pedro 36, several times, dodging heavy enemy fire to rescue three casualties, provide attack support, and supply coalition ground troops. For this mission, Barnett will receive a DFC and Creel will receive a DFC with Valor. With these awards, Creel will have three DFCs overall.
As the Air Force readied for its June 21-22 strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the service was also putting its Agile Combat Employment strategy into action, dispersing combat aircraft and Airmen from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in preparation for a possible Iranian retaliatory attack. Some defense experts say…
