Bagram remembers, marches for fallen PJ

Photo By Nicholas Rau | A HH-60 Pavehawk helicopter does a fly-over during a ceremony in honor of Senior Airman Jason Cunningham, a pararescueman killed in Afghanistan in 2002, presents it to the Bagram Honor Guard to be flown at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, March 4, 2016. Cunningham was on his first combat mission when he died saving the lives of 10 others who were critically wounded. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Rau)  

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

03.04.2016

Story by Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Rau 

455th Air Expeditionary Wing   

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - More than 400 members of Bagram came together to honor the memory of fallen pararescueman Senior Airman Jason Cunningham with a ceremony and ruck march.

Cunningham was killed in Afghanistan in 2002. The main Air Force compound was christened Camp Cunningham in memoriam, and today was the 14th year anniversary of his death.

“He had a huge heart and always wanted to learn,” said Maj. Matthew McGuinness, 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron commander, who served with Cunningham. “He was always trying to get better at medicine because he wanted to save lives.”

Service members and civilians alike, put on up to 70 pounds of gear and marched over three miles. Afterward, a ceremony was held cherishing the life and sacrifice of Cunningham. At the conclusion, the 83rd ERQS performed a fly-over with HH-60 Pavehawk helicopters.

Cunningham’s heroics during The Battle of Robert’s Ridge

What began as a Navy SEAL raid on an al-Qaida controlled area in the Takhur Ghar Mountain to secure the high ground during Operation Anaconda, quickly deteriorated into a rescue mission after their helicopter was shot and they encountered overwhelming enemy forces.

Cunningham, on his first combat mission, was assigned to a Quick Reaction Force that was deployed to get the SEALs off the mountain and treat the critically wounded. However, just before landing, the helicopter he was in was struck by RPG and forced to crash land. Cunningham set up a point inside the burning wreckage where he could begin treating the wounded. His citation for the Air Force Cross details the next events.

“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 wounds. As he moved his patients to a more secure location, mortar rounds began to impact within 50 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."

It was then that Cunningham was struck with an enemy round and began to bleed to death. Although wounded, he continued to treat others instead of himself.

"Even after he was mortally wounded and quickly deteriorating, he continued to direct patient movement and transferred care to another medic," the citation goes on to say. "In the end, his distinct efforts led to the successful delivery of 10 gravely wounded Americans to life-saving medical treatment."

That day, and for all the days to come, Cunningham upheld the pararescueman’s creed, “So that others may live.”

(Editor’s Note: Background Information for this article was gathered from U.S. Air Forces Central Command.)

• Date Taken: 03.04.2016
• Date Posted: 03.04.2016 08:33
• Story ID: 191093
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF