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LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- It was October 2008 in
Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. A Marine had
been shot twice in the arm, another in the helmet and the
Marine Special Operations Team had three of their weapons
damaged by fire. They were outnumbered 11 to one and in
desperate need of air support.
The enemy began
overwhelming them with rocket-propelled grenades, heavy
machine guns and small-arms fire. The last building they
found cover in had been struck by more than 20
rocket-propelled grenades causing the walls to crumble
forcing the team into their last few defensible rooms. For
more than two hours the team repelled three attempts by the
enemy to breach their cover. They were approaching a
hand-to-hand combat situation.
Two sections of F-18
Super Hornet fighter jets responded to the Marines' request
for close-air support but couldn't help them because they
would not fly below the clouds covering the mountains below.
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Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus, 56th Fighter Wing commander, pins the Air Force Combat Action Medal onto Capt. Aaron Cavazos, 61st Fighter Squadron weapons officer, Jan. 16 in Club Five Six at Luke Air Force Base. Cavazos was awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor for his heroism while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom Oct. 28, 2008. Cavazos efforts saved the lives of six Marines that day. (Image
created by USA Patriotism! with U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Grace Lee)
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Shortly after, the Marines received word that two A-10
Warthogs, one flown by 1st Lt. Aaron Cavazos, penetrated the
cloud cover and found a way into the tight valley. While the
A-10s diverted surface fire to themselves by using overt
lighting, they were able to identify friendly and enemy
positions allowing the Marines time to develop a plan.
The Marines quickly moved out of the compound to an
eight-foot wall north of their position while engaging the
enemy who was as close as 10 feet away. As they pushed north
from the wall under heavy enemy fire, they heard the sound
of the 30mm guns in support of their movement as A-10s made
the first of a series of low-angle gun runs closer than 50
meters away.
Because of the heroic actions of then
1st Lt., now Capt. Aaron Cavazos, 61st Fighter Squadron
weapons officer, the lives of those six Marines were saved,
earning him the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor, which
he received on Jan. 16, 2015 in Club Five Six at Luke Air
Force Base.
"The biggest reward for me in earning a
second Distinguished Flying Cross was that my friends and
other pilots within the squadron thought highly enough of
what we did that night to nominate us for the DFC with
Valor," Cavazos said. "It's a huge honor for me to have
received this award today."
To one pilot, Cavazos is
the essence of what a fighter pilot should be.
"Captain Cavazos is the epitome of a fighter pilot who lives
by the warrior ethos," said Lt. Col. Michael Ebner, 61st FS
commander. "In this case, he truly placed service before
self. He risked his own life by doing what others would not
do in order to save fellow service members' lives. His
bravery and selflessness are second-to-none. Without his
heroic actions, several Marines would have died that day. He
is a testament to the integrity, honor and valor passed down
through generations of American warfighters such as Gabreski,
Risner, Olds and many others."
By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Grace Lee
Air Force News Service
Copyright 2015
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