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To
All Who Shall See These Presents Greeting:
This is to Certify that
The President of the United States of America
Authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code
Takes Pride in Presenting
THE AIR FORCE CROSS
to
 WILKINSON, TIMOTHY A.
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force
Cross to Timothy A. Wilkinson, Technical Sergeant, U.S. Air Force, for
extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force
as a 24th Special Tactics Squadron Pararescueman in the vicinity of the
Olympic Hotel, Mogadishu, Somalia, during Operation RESTORE HOPE from 3
October 1993 to 4 October 1993. During that period, in response to an incident
in which a United States helicopter had been shot down by a rocket propelled
grenade, Sergeant Wilkinson conducted a fast rope insertion into the crash
site and came under extremely heavy enemy fire from three directions. In the
initial rescue effort, he repeatedly exposed himself to intense small arms
fire and grenades to clear debris, provide emergency medical treatment to the
survivors, and extract dead and wounded members of the crew from the wreckage.
On his own initiative, Sergeant Wilkinson broke cover on three separate
occasions to locate and provide emergency medical treatment to three Ranger
casualties. In doing so, he ignored all concern for his personal safety to
cross a 45 meter-wide open area blanketed with intense fire from small arms,
and rocket propelled grenades. Sergeant Wilkinson's medical skills and
uncommon valor saved the lives of multiple gravely wounded American soldiers
in the longest sustained fire fight involving United States combat forces in
over 20 years. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and
aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Sergeant Wilkinson reflected the
highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Born: December 1957 at Corry, Pennsylvania
Home Town: Norfolk, Virginia
Personal Awards: Air Force Cross (Somalia), Joint Service
Commendation Medal, 3@ Air Force Commendation Medals, 2@ Air Force Achievement
Medals, Purple Heart
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