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The
President of the United States
Takes Pride in Presenting
The Air Force Cross (Posthumously)
To
Jason
Dean Cunningham
Senior Airman, U.S. Air Force
For
Services as Set Forth in the Following
Citation:
The President of the United States of America,
authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, U.S.C., awards the Air Force Cross
to Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham for extraordinary heroism in
military operations against an opposing armed force while serving as a
pararescueman near the village of Marzak in the Paktia Province of
Afghanistan on 4 March 2002. On that proud day, Airman Cunningham was
the primary Air Force Combat Search and Rescue medic assigned to a Quick
Reaction Force tasked to recover two American servicemen evading capture
in austere terrain occupied by massed Al Qaida and Taliban forces.
Shortly before landing, his MH-47E helicopter received accurate
rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire, severely disabling the
aircraft and causing it to crash land. The assault force formed a hasty
defense and immediately suffered three fatalities and five critical
casualties. 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 wounded. As he moved his patients to a more secure
location, mortar rounds began to impact within fifty 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. 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 ten gravely wounded
Americans to life-saving medical treatment. Through his extraordinary
heroism, superb airmanship, aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, and
in the dedication of his service to his country, Senior Airman
Cunningham reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United
States Air Force.
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