None of the Medal of Honor recipients from the war on terrorism have been airmen, and now the Air Force is making sure airmen have been appropriately recognized for their bravery.
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Cody answered questions Tuesday during a Reddit Ask Me Anything session, and one person said he and other special operators have wondered why no airman has received the Medal of Honor for actions since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"I know several personal cases (Robert Gutierrez and Dustin Temple most recently) were awarded the Air Force Cross but would think these actions would potentially merit recommendation for MoH discussion," the questioner wrote.
Cody replied that he "couldn't agree more" with the questioner's sentiment.
"We have some great airmen who have performed heroically in the GWOT [global war on terrorism]," Cody wrote. "We're currently reviewing some previously awarded medals to ensure our Airmen have been appropriately acknowledge for their actions."
The Air Force secretary, defense secretary and president must all give their approval for a valor award to be upgraded to the Medal of Honor, said Doug Sterner, curator of the Military Times Hall of Valor.
Medals database: Hall of Valor
One airman who undoubtedly deserves the Medal of Honor for his bravery is Robert Gutierrez, who was awarded the Air Force Cross for his during a 2009 battle in Afghanistan, Sterner said.
Then a staff sergeant, Gutierrez was shot by an insurgent during the fighting and his lung collapsed. A medic jammed a syringe into Gutierrez' chest so that Gutierrez could coordinate airstrikes to fend off Taliban fighters and call in an evacuation helicopter.
Another airman deserving of the Medal of Honor is Senior Airman Dustin Temple, who received the Air Force Cross for his heroism during a September battle in Afghanistan, Sterner said.
Temple repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to call in airstrikes from AC-130s, F-16s, AH-1 Cobras and an MQ-1 to stop more than 100 insurgents from overwhelming his force of Army Special Forces and Afghan commandos. Temple is credited with saving the lives of more than 80 US and Afghan troops.
Other airmen who should be considered for the Medal of Honor include Tech. Sgt. John Chapman and Senior Airman Jason Cunningham who were both posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross for their actions during the Battle of Robert's Ridge in Gardez, Afghanistan, on March 4, 2002, Sterner said.
