U.S. Army Col. T.J. Jamison, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade commander, of Broken Arrow, Okla., awards U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Eckhardt, of Hastings, Neb., the Air Medal with "V" device for valor. Eckhardt and his team of OH-58D Kiowa Warrior pilots prevented a small outpost manned by U.S. soldiers from being overrun by placing themselves directly in the line of intense enemy fire. The four pilots in two small reconnaissance helicopters engaged multiple enemy fighting positions at once, while drawing fire away from ground forces. In addition, their actions prevented the enemy from shooting at MEDEVAC aircraft evacuating wounded soldiers under fire. Eckhardt and his fellow Task Force Saber, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade troopers not only saved lives by allowing MEDEVAC to evacuate wounded, but saved the lives of multiple U.S. soldiers in the tiny, remote outpost.
Sgt. 1st Class Eric Pahon
Taken on 26 April 2012
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