Three U.S. Airmen Given Valor Awards For Heroic Actions In Afghanistan

Three U.S Airmen Given Valor Awards For Heroic Actions In Afghanistan

Today, three United States airmen, Senior Airman Dustin Temple, Tech Sgt. Matthew Greiner, and Senior Airman Goodie Goodman, will receive some of the highest awards in the military for their heroic actions on September 27, 2014.

From the Washington Post:

Senior Airman Dustin H. Temple will receive the rare and prestigious Air Force Cross, which is second only to the Medal of Honor in honoring heroism in combat in the service. Goodman and Tech. Sgt. Matthew J. Greiner will receive the Silver Star, which is two levels below the Medal of Honor.

The attack consisted of close to 100 insurgents who rained fire on the Americans and had plans to overrun their position and take them hostage. What the insurgents didn’t take into account is the fact that they were facing the greatest military ever to set foot on this earth. Twenty-one insurgents were killed that day while the U.S. forces only suffered one casualty.

A big reason for that was due to these three airmen. Airman Temple risked finding the crosshairs of enemy snipers to drag the Special Forces soldier who had been shot to an evacuation helicopter. Temple also called in strafing gun runs from F-16 fighters and risked enemy fire again to retrieve ammo from a helicopter that landed under fire.

Tech Sgt. Greiner guided multiple airstrikes that destroyed two enemy compounds with four 500 pound bombs from two F-16s. He didn’t stop there. He again called for Hellfire strikes, AH-64 Apache gun runs, and then took out six guys with an AC-130 strike as they approached the troops.

Airman Goodman drew out insurgents by telling the AC-130 to stay out of audible range while he held down a rooftop position on the same compound that Tech Sgt. Grenier was on. Goodman would then control the AC-130 and mortar firing on the insurgents.

Their actions are nothing short of amazing. Thank you for your service. True heroes.

[via Washington Post]

Photos released by the Air Force

  1. USArmy

    God bless the men for what they did! Everyone can sleep a little safer tonight because of their actions.

    10 years ago at 12:39 pm
  2. RedPill

    Respect. Judging by the jump wings, HALO and Scuba badges, and their expertise in calling in air support these brave gents are most likely Combat Controllers or Pararescue.

    10 years ago at 12:42 pm
    1. inhocFaF

      My thoughts exactly. Combat Controllers don’t get the press that other JSOC units do, but they are damn good at what they do. Their training is extremely rigorous and has an absurd washout rate.

      On a side note, Goodie Goodman is one hell of a name. Pretty sure with a name like that, he was born for military greatness. He strikes me as a Maverick.

      10 years ago at 12:57 pm
    1. BelichicksEgo

      Shut the fuck up. My grandfather was an air force POW for a year in Germany during WWII. What have you done? Fucking drank on the weekends and get blackout with your bros? These guys have more courage than you ever will.

      10 years ago at 3:03 pm
      1. Strong F. Kennedy

        I think his point was to silence those who say “airmen are pussies” albeit he didn’t do a very good job with it

        10 years ago at 3:32 pm
  3. FLICKyou

    I love reading stories like these. Damn proud of these fine gentleman and those who were with them that day. Damn proud of all of our men and women in uniform. Keep up the good work over there and get your asses back here safe. Fuck terrorism.

    10 years ago at 2:13 pm
  4. DchiGuy69

    Proud as fuck to be serving with such heroes. At the end of the day all of our perspective branches are on the same team fighting the same fight. God bless you boys. Thank you for what you do.

    10 years ago at 3:02 pm
  5. Threelastnames

    Do not mess with Special Tactics guys. These are the kind of guys who have killed the most bad guys since 9/11, and they’ve done it by putting warheads on foreheads.

    10 years ago at 4:28 pm