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Captain Barry Crawford, another American Hero! DoD Blogger Roundtable
Today is a big day for an American hero. Captain Barry Crawford will be receiving the nation’s second highest award for combat valor – the Air Force Cross (each service has an equivalent). In front of friends, his special tactics team members, fellow military personnel and distinguished visitors, Captain Crawford will be recognized for his heroism on the battlefield in Afghanistan. His coolness under fire helped deliver ordnance from the skies to assist his special operations team and Afghan commandos and prevented them from being overrun! The Air Force special tactics officer is credited with saving many Afghan and US soldiers’ lives during that pitched 12 hour battle for control…
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He “Refused to be a Burden” and Earned an Air Force Cross – DoD Blogger Roundtable
TSgt (Select) Robert (“Gute”) GutierrezHUMBLE HONORED BLESSING THANK YOU SERVICE BEFORE SELF FIT FOR DUTY TEAM FATHER FAMILY Words heard frequently during the interview… A motto… FIRST THERE … THAT OTHERS MAY LIVEImagine a night time assault on a bad guy stronghold with the best fighters in the world on your side. You are outnumbered and the bad guys have the high ground (never a good thing) but you have A-10s and F-16s overhead and the night is your friend. Plus you have eyes in the sky overlooking the battle situation with an ISR platform. But you are the guy calling in the airstrikes, you control them with your radio,…
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“Remember those who gave their lives there” Korengal Valley, Afghanistan – DoD Roundtable
I spoke to heroes during this Roundtable! They defended us in a remote valley in Afghanistan and in the mountains around it. They fought a battle there on October 25, 2007 that resulted in the death of friends, injuries, moments of fear and terror. The responses of one man to the combat situation he found himself in earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor! Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta is the first person to receive the MOH since the Vietnam War who could receive it in person from the President. There have been others who received our nation’s highest decoration in our wars since Vietnam but unfortunately they were posthumously presented…