82nd Combat Aviation Brigade pilots earn air medals

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Eric Pahon | 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade leadership poses with medal recipients on Forward Operating Base Fenty, Afghanistan, April 26. Pictured from left to right: 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade Command Sgt. Maj. Larry Farmer, of San Diego, Calif.; 1st Sgt. Daniel Moesch, of Ithaca, N.Y.; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Clifford Shaw, of Melbourne, Fla.; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jason Smith, of Little Falls, N.Y.; Chief Warrant Officer 3 David Briggs, of Toledo, Wash.; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bradley Greer, of Birmingham, Ala.; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Eckhardt; Lt. Col. Jeffrey Cheeks, Task Force Saber commander, of Franklin, Ga., and Col. T.J. Jamison, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade commander, of Broken Arrow, Okla. Each of the five pilots received awards for saving Afghan and American lives while under heavy enemy fire.  

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

04.26.2012

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Eric Pahon 

82nd Combat Aviation Brigade

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Four 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade pilots earned Air medals on Forward Operating Base Fenty, Afghanistan, April 26.

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Eckhardt, of Hastings, Neb., earned an Air medal with “V” device for valor. U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bradley Greer, of Birmingham, Ala., U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Matthew Steele, of Little Rock, Ark., and U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Aaron Floyd, of Fayetteville, N.C., earned Air medals.

The four Task Force Saber pilots earned recognition for their accomplishments on Oct. 13, 2011 while supporting a ground unit in Kunar province, Afghanistan.

A ground unit was manning a small observation post when they came under heavy enemy fire from at least five positions. The pilots, flying two OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters, coordinated with commanders on the ground to find the enemy and met heavy enemy resistance. Placing themselves directly in the enemy’s line of fire, they repeatedly engaged enemy forces despite the heavy machine gun and rocket-propelled grenades being launched at their aircraft.

They were able to direct the enemy’s fire away from the small ground unit and give them some reprieve.

While re-arming and re-fueling, the team intercepted a request to MEDEVAC wounded soldiers. They threw themselves back into the fight, exposing their aircraft to enemy fire once again, allowing MEDEVAC aircraft to land safely and extract wounded Afghan and coalition soldiers.

Throughout that night, the pilots pinned down the enemy, preventing enemy forces from overrunning the isolated observation post, saving American and Afghan lives in the process.

• Date Taken: 04.26.2012
• Date Posted: 05.01.2012 13:19
• Story ID: 87669
• Location: NANGARHAR PROVINCE, AF
• Hometown: BIRMINGHAM, AL, US
• Hometown: BROKEN ARROW, OK, US
• Hometown: FAYETTEVILLE, NC, US
• Hometown: FORT LIBERTY, NC, US
• Hometown: HASTINGS, NE, US
• Hometown: LITTLE ROCK, AR, US
• Hometown: RALEIGH, NC, US
• Hometown: SAN DIEGO, CA, US