Explosive ordnance disposal technician Tech Sgt. Patrick McGillivray was recognized for his bravery on three separate patrols in Afghanistan, while embedded with special forces.
He is one of 24 airmen honored for heroism in the Air Force's latest Portraits in Courage volume.
McGillivray and his team leader were ambushed while on patrol in Wardak Province on July 13, 2013, the Air Force said. Insurgents trained machine gun fire on them from two sides, while McGillivray took cover behind a taxi and began firing back.
Before long, the taxi was shredded. McGillivray ran under fire to an all-terrain vehicle to get an M-240B machine gun and ammunition. The Air Force said he repelled the attack and protected more than 100 local residents.
A few weeks later, McGillivray and his team were attacked again when a rocket-propelled grenade hit their armored vehicle. The RPG pierced its hull and sprayed the interior with shrapnel, seriously injuring the driver and the vehicle commander. McGillivray, his team leader and a medic quickly pulled them out and began trying to stop their bleeding, when they came under fire again. McGillivray continued to provide aid to them and helped carry two wounded soldiers more than 200 yards to a helicopter landing zone.
In the third incident, Aug. 25, 2013, McGillivray and his team fought 25 enemy fighters in a fierce six-hour firefight. The insurgents were fortified in six separate positions, which the Air Force said formed "a potentially lethal kill box." McGillivray held his position and kept fighting, and his team repelled the attack without any casualties.
McGillivray was nominated for the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal with Valor.
