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| U.S. Air Force Maj. Jeremiah "Bull" Parvin, 75th Fighter Squadron director of operations, poses for a photo in front of his A-10C Thunderbolt II, Jan. 28, 2015, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. |
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| U.S. Air Force Maj. Jeremiah ‘Bull’ Parvin, 75th Fighter Squadrondirector of operations, gives a speech during his Distinguished Flying Crosswith Valor Ceremony Jan. 29, 2015, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga.Maj. Gen. H. D. Polumbo Jr., Ninth Air Force commander, presided over the ceremony and presented Parvin with the DFC medal. |
Cross with Valor
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| Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus, 56th Fighter Wing commander, pins the Air Force Combat Action Medal onto Capt. Aaron Cavazos, 61st Fighter Squadron weapons officer, Jan. 16 in Club Five Six at Luke Air Force Base. Cavazos was awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor for his heroism while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom Oct. 28, 2008. Cavazos efforts saved the lives of six Marines that day. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Grace Lee) |
WARTHOG PILOT WHO SAVED SIX MARINES WITH STRAFING RUNS RECEIVES DFC | Soldier of Fortune Magazine
“The biggest reward for me in earning a second Distinguished Flying Cross was that my friends and other pilots within the squadron thought
highly enough of what we did that night to nominate us for the DFC with
Valor,” Cavazos said when he was presented with the award.
“In this case, he truly placed service before self. He risked his own
life by doing what others would not do in order to save fellow service
members’ lives. His bravery and selflessness are second-to-none. Without
his heroic actions, several Marines would have died that day. He is a
testament to the integrity, honor and valor passed down through
generations of American warfighters such as Gabreski, Risner, Olds and
many others,” Lt. Col. Michael Ebner, the Commanding Officer of the 61st
Fighter Squadron said.
DVIDS - News - DFC with Valor: A-10C pilot recognized for heroism in combat
Once overhead, they determined a Marine Special Operations Team was
being relentlessly assaulted and the enemy was closing in fast. After
nearly two hours of close-quarters combat, the team was in dire need of
support and there was no way for ground forces to reach them. There were
also a number of Marines who sustained gunshot wounds and needed
medical care.
“You get there and there’s this huge excitement and adrenaline rush that
you try to tamper down,” Parvin said. “You hear gunshots in the
background; you hear screams of urgency in their voices. You could just
tell they need help and they need it now.”
Parvin turned on the A-10C’s overt exterior lights to divert enemy fire
toward himself and away from the Marine unit. With the help of the JTAC,
he was able to distinguish the friendlies from the enemies and provide
close air support. While maneuvering in the mountainous terrain taking
heavy surface-to-air fire, Parvin destroyed multiple enemy positions –
some within 40 meters of U.S. forces. His actions gave the Marines
enough time to retreat to safety.
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