Silver Star shines bright on Hutchins’ heroic actions

Photo By Staff Sgt. Miranda Loera | Retired Staff Sgt. Benjamin Hutchins, 18th Air Support Operations Group joint terminal attack controller, received a Silver Star medal during a ceremony, Nov. 4, 2016, at Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina. Hutchins was recognized for his actions in the face of imminent danger while supporting OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM while assigned to the 504th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group in Afghanistan in 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Miranda A. Loera)  

POPE ARMY AIRFIELD, NC, UNITED STATES

11.07.2016

Story by Airman Miranda Loera 

4th Fighter Wing   

Maj. Gen. Thomas Deale, Director of Operations of Air Combat Command, presented retired Staff Sgt. Benjamin Hutchins, 18th Air Support Operations Group joint terminal attack controller, with the Silver Star medal during a ceremony Nov. 4, 2016 at Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina.
Hutchins distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States during a deployment to Afghanistan in 2009.
“Ben joins a line of Americans that date back to World War I who are recognized with high honor in service and combat,” Deale said.
While deployed to Bala Murghab, Afghanistan, Hutchins attempted to save two soldiers who were swept away in the Bala Murghab River. The soldiers were attempting to recover a bundle from a missed aerial delivery. Hutchins, despite enemy forces firing at him, dove into the water searching for the soldiers until American forces arrived to fend off the enemy and aid the recovery attempt.
“You would think that we would be somber or even sad,” said Hutchins. “That wasn’t the case at all. Once you lose somebody, you get motivated. It’s the only way to fix it, you can’t get too caught up in the emotions or the same thing could happen to you.”
The next day, Hutchins and three others volunteered to leave cover and engage the enemy in order to counteract the aggressive firing. He and the three other individuals moved under heavy rocket propelled grenade, machine gun and sniper fire across an open field with little to no cover or concealment.
Hutchins managed to direct sensors of air support while continuing to fire with his M-4 rifle. He killed one enemy armed with a rocket propelled grenade launcher before the enemy could fire and wounded an additional enemy fighter, all while providing targeting and controlling information to an overhead unmanned aerial vehicle that destroyed a second enemy fighting position with a AGM-114 Hellfire missile.
“We destroyed an entire stronghold of an entire city, and no other friendly forces were lost after that,” said Hutchins.
Hutchins said he was humbled and honored to receive the award.
“The work that I did those days gets done every day by individuals that don’t receive this recognition,” said Hutchins. “I am just representing for them. I just hope it can inspire those Airmen under me and set that example.”
Master Sgt. Donald Gansberger, Air Combat Command plans, programs, and requirements noncommissioned officer for Tactical Air Control Party, was Hutchins’ first supervisor, and was also on the same deployment.
“During the deployment he showed so much bravery,” said Gansberger. “Those two events that were two days apart were extremely heroic to me. He stepped up and saved the entire team that day.”
Editor’s note: During another deployment in 2012, Hutchins was injured by an improvised explosive device and was medically retired as a Staff Sergeant in 2014.

• Date Taken: 11.07.2016
• Date Posted: 11.07.2016 15:03
• Story ID: 214044
• Location: POPE ARMY AIRFIELD, NC, US