The Air Force is the only service that has not awarded a Medal of Honor for the Global War on Terror.
Fourteen airmen, 11 of them pilots, received Medals of Honor for Vietnam — 40 years ago. Four more were awarded for Korea. Since 9/11, seven airmen have been awarded Air Force Crosses, the second-highest honor.
On May 6, the Air Force honored Senior Airman Dustin Temple with an Air Force Cross for heroism in Afghanistan in 2014.
Temple's award citation describes just a part of his two harrowing days as a combat controller: "Airman Temple again risked his own life to save his teammate, by carrying him across 100 meters of open terrain. Despite overwhelming and accurate enemy machine gun fire, he remained on the open landing zone ... while his teammates pulled back."
Over 48 hours, he controlled 48 aircraft "while safely employing munitions at danger close range 75 times." He saved the lives of 80 friendly forces.
Anyone who reads of the actions of Temple, or those of Staff Sgt. Robert Gutierrez — awarded an Air Force Cross in 2011 — has to wonder whether Air Force brass is holding an impossible standard for the Medal of Honor.
Temple's "citation is solid," said Doug Sterner, curator of the Military Times Hall of Valor and expert on military awards. "What does it take to get a Medal of Honor?"
With the wars winding down, Temple may be the Air Force's last chance to pin the nation's highest honor on one of its own.
"Where is the Air Force Medal of Honor recipient for the next generation?" Sterner said. "I don't know why the Air Force isn't advocating for it."
Temple's award should be reviewed — and upgraded to the distinction his heroic actions deserve.
