Toro
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Weapons officer receives Silver Star
By Staff Sgt. Bryan Bouchard
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. (ACCNS) -- A weapons systems officer here received a Silver Star Wednesday for his participation in the battle of Roberts Ridge during Operation Anaconda.
The award came exactly eight months to the day Capt. Chris Russell and three other men from the 335th Fighter Squadron came under intense enemy fire while providing close air support to Army and Air Force ground troops during the battle.
Using air-to-ground methods not usually associated with F-15Es, Captain Russell and his pilot, Capt. Kirk Rieckhoff, employed tactics normally seen performed by A-10s.
Col. Rick Rosborg, 4th Fighter Wing commander, presented the medal to Captain Russell in a small ceremony at the squadron in front of the captain's wife and squadron-mates.
"This is a huge, huge award," the colonel said. "It speaks highly of [Russell]; about his performance with conspicuous gallantry."
Captain Russell's Silver Star comes as result of his efforts as part of a two-ship F-15E flight that saved the lives of American service members March 4. The two F-15Es were the first aircraft on the scene after a rescue attempt for Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts failed. Petty Officer Roberts was a Navy SEAL who fell from his helicopter amidst enemy ground fire during an insertion into the Shahi Kot Valley region of Afghanistan.
According to the citation, Captain Russell's flight, call sign Twister 52, made contact with an American ground forward air controlling team that was taking fire from enemy troops 75 meters away. The ground team restricted Twister flight to strafe passes due to a "danger close" condition. This condition meant friendly troops were within minimal risk distances of injury or death from friendly weapons on enemy locations. "I didn't realize they had taken so many casualties," Captain Russell said about his initial reaction to the situation.
Twister flight made six strafe passes while firing 20-mm rounds from an altitude of 1,500 feet over the target area. This was well within the threat zone of small arms fire and surface to air missiles. The ground team reported enemy fire was suppressed on each pass, but requested more passes to kill steadily increasing numbers of reinforced Taliban and al Qaeda forces.
Out of 20-mm ammunition, Twister 51, the aircraft manned by Maj. Chris Short and Lt. Col. Jim Fairchild, became the airborne forward air controller and targeted Captain Russell's jet on four additional low-altitude strafe passes. Due to radio failure, Twister 51 then passed the tactical lead to Captain Russell's aircraft. With the ground team's concurrence, Twister flight began employing laser-guided bombs. The two aircrews attempted to guide each successive bomb closer to enemy forces without injuring American service members. The aircrews were able to drop bombs as close as 200 meters from friendly forces.
Captain Russell and his team remained on station for five hours, two hours beyond the scheduled coverage time, resulting in a combat sortie more than 12 hours long. By inflicting direct losses to enemy forces while subjecting himself to enemy fire, Captain Russell helped pave the way for the eventual rescue of 23 American service members.
Captain Russell said he wasn't the only hero that day.
"The real heroes were the guys on the ground that day," he said. "Seven guys died on that mountain that day."
The other three crewmembers, Captain Rieckhoff, Major Short and Colonel Fairchild, will also eventually receive Silver Stars. There have been only six Silver Stars awarded to F-15E Strike Eagle aircrew members. All six have been from the 335th FS, said Lt. Col. Spanky Dennis, the 335th FS commander.
The Air Force Cross and the Medal of Honor are the only two medals earned for gallantry that rank higher than the Silver Star.
By Staff Sgt. Bryan Bouchard
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. (ACCNS) -- A weapons systems officer here received a Silver Star Wednesday for his participation in the battle of Roberts Ridge during Operation Anaconda.
The award came exactly eight months to the day Capt. Chris Russell and three other men from the 335th Fighter Squadron came under intense enemy fire while providing close air support to Army and Air Force ground troops during the battle.
Using air-to-ground methods not usually associated with F-15Es, Captain Russell and his pilot, Capt. Kirk Rieckhoff, employed tactics normally seen performed by A-10s.
Col. Rick Rosborg, 4th Fighter Wing commander, presented the medal to Captain Russell in a small ceremony at the squadron in front of the captain's wife and squadron-mates.
"This is a huge, huge award," the colonel said. "It speaks highly of [Russell]; about his performance with conspicuous gallantry."
Captain Russell's Silver Star comes as result of his efforts as part of a two-ship F-15E flight that saved the lives of American service members March 4. The two F-15Es were the first aircraft on the scene after a rescue attempt for Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts failed. Petty Officer Roberts was a Navy SEAL who fell from his helicopter amidst enemy ground fire during an insertion into the Shahi Kot Valley region of Afghanistan.
According to the citation, Captain Russell's flight, call sign Twister 52, made contact with an American ground forward air controlling team that was taking fire from enemy troops 75 meters away. The ground team restricted Twister flight to strafe passes due to a "danger close" condition. This condition meant friendly troops were within minimal risk distances of injury or death from friendly weapons on enemy locations. "I didn't realize they had taken so many casualties," Captain Russell said about his initial reaction to the situation.
Twister flight made six strafe passes while firing 20-mm rounds from an altitude of 1,500 feet over the target area. This was well within the threat zone of small arms fire and surface to air missiles. The ground team reported enemy fire was suppressed on each pass, but requested more passes to kill steadily increasing numbers of reinforced Taliban and al Qaeda forces.
Out of 20-mm ammunition, Twister 51, the aircraft manned by Maj. Chris Short and Lt. Col. Jim Fairchild, became the airborne forward air controller and targeted Captain Russell's jet on four additional low-altitude strafe passes. Due to radio failure, Twister 51 then passed the tactical lead to Captain Russell's aircraft. With the ground team's concurrence, Twister flight began employing laser-guided bombs. The two aircrews attempted to guide each successive bomb closer to enemy forces without injuring American service members. The aircrews were able to drop bombs as close as 200 meters from friendly forces.
Captain Russell and his team remained on station for five hours, two hours beyond the scheduled coverage time, resulting in a combat sortie more than 12 hours long. By inflicting direct losses to enemy forces while subjecting himself to enemy fire, Captain Russell helped pave the way for the eventual rescue of 23 American service members.
Captain Russell said he wasn't the only hero that day.
"The real heroes were the guys on the ground that day," he said. "Seven guys died on that mountain that day."
The other three crewmembers, Captain Rieckhoff, Major Short and Colonel Fairchild, will also eventually receive Silver Stars. There have been only six Silver Stars awarded to F-15E Strike Eagle aircrew members. All six have been from the 335th FS, said Lt. Col. Spanky Dennis, the 335th FS commander.
The Air Force Cross and the Medal of Honor are the only two medals earned for gallantry that rank higher than the Silver Star.
