The US Army played a key role in launching air operations for Operation Desert Storm in January 1991. 15 airmen honored with Distinguished Flying Cross awardThis important award will be presented on May 15, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) 2025 Army Aviation Mission Solutions SummitThe Distinguished Flying Cross is the fourth highest award for military valor in the United States military.
The Result of a Years-Long Struggle
The airmen in question initially received Air Medals with “V” insignia after their historic mission. Retired Gen. Richard “Dick” Cody, who served as battalion commander of the 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment during Desert Storm, It's been years of work to upgrade the medals of these airmen, who were part of Task Force Normandy According to the Army statement, Cody's persistent efforts allowed them to receive the higher honor they deserved.
Awards, Commander of the Aviation Center of Excellence and Director of the Aviation Branch Major General Clair Gill “This is truly a moment for us as an Army and an Air Force,” Gill said during the ceremony. “Every one of us who joins the Army looks to those who came before us. We need to use those role models as people we need to recognize and honor, and then repeat the commitment they made on the night of January 17, 1991.” He emphasized that the bravery of these Airmen will inspire future generations.
Task Force Normandy: First Strike Against Iraqi Air Defenses
For the historic mission, eight Army AH-64 Apache helicopter and four Air Force From the MH-53J Pave Low helicopter A task force was formed consisting of Red Team ve White Team was divided into two.
The Red Team's Distinguished Flying Cross recipients are: Chief Petty Officer 4 Lewis Hall, Chief Petty Officer Jerry Orsburn, Chief Petty Officer 2 Shawn Hoban, Chief Petty Officer Tim Vincent, Chief Petty Officer 3 James Miller, Chief Petty Officer Jody Bridgeforth, Captain Newman Shufflebarger and Chief Petty Officer 3 Tim Roderick.
The White Team's Distinguished Flying Cross recipients are: Chief Petty Officer 3 Dave Jones, Chief Petty Officer 2 Tip O'Neill, Chief Petty Officer 3 Ronald Rodriguez, Chief Petty Officer 2 Lee Miller, Chief Petty Officer 2 Tim Zarnowski, Lieutenant Tom Drew, Chief Petty Officer 2 Brian Stewmon and Lieutenant Colonel Dick Cody.
The teams destroyed two Iraqi early warning radar sites 22 minutes before the early morning hours, neutralizing the enemy's air defenses. This critical operation, In the first minutes of the air operation, a 20-mile wide safe air corridor was establishedAs stated in the statement, the Apache crew during this mission 27 Hellfire missiles, hundreds of rockets and thousands of 30mm ammunition threw it.
Heroic Acts and the Importance of Mission
The soldiers who were awarded the award were killed in a dark battle 90 miles from enemy territory. They "performed heroic acts" during the 15-hour mission "Eight crews from Task Force Normandy fired the first shots of Desert Storm, destroying Iraqi radar and ground control points and officially launching the Allied air campaign," the army statement said.
This mission was crucial to the strategic success of Operation Desert Storm. The neutralization of air defenses allowed coalition forces to establish air superiority and paved the way for subsequent operations. The courage and professionalism displayed by airmen behind enemy lines in the dark went down in history as a feat.
