{"id":26227,"date":"2020-11-06T23:46:44","date_gmt":"2020-11-06T23:46:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/11\/06\/airmen-receive-dfcs-bronze-star-for-daring-osprey-rescues-in-iranian-ballistic-missile-attack\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:45:04","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:45:04","slug":"airmen-receive-dfcs-bronze-star-for-daring-osprey-rescues-in-iranian-ballistic-missile-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2020\/11\/06\/airmen-receive-dfcs-bronze-star-for-daring-osprey-rescues-in-iranian-ballistic-missile-attack\/","title":{"rendered":"Airmen receive DFCs, Bronze Star for daring Osprey rescues in Iranian ballistic missile attack"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Two airmen were presented with the Distinguished Flying Cross for their roles in a daring CV-22B Osprey rescue of 194 special operations forces during an Iranian ballistic missile attack<\/a> on U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq earlier this year<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A third airman received a Bronze Star for his role leading the Osprey response during the Jan. 7 attack<\/a>, and other missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lt. Col. Adam Darrow, commander of 58th Operations Group Detachment 1, and Tech. Sgt. Samuel Levander, the operations section chief for the 71st Operations Squadron, both received the DFC for their role in the three-part evacuation of special operators Jan. 7. The citation does not identify the location from which the special operations forces were rescued due to operational sensitivities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded to service members for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lt. Col. Adam Leachman, a CV-22 Osprey pilot from the 71st, received a Bronze Star for his role in a rescue at al-Asad Air Base in Iraq.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Maj. Gen. Craig Wills, 19th Air Force commander, presents the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lt. Col. Adam Darrow, 58th Operations Group Detachment 1 commander, at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, Nov. 3, 2020. The Distinguished Flying Cross medal is awarded to service members for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. (Airman 1st Class Ireland Summers\/Air Force)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Maj. Gen. Craig Wills, commander of the 19th Air Force, presented the awards Tuesday during a ceremony at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToday John Leachman, Adam Darrow and Samuel Levander join in the pantheon of Air Force heroes,\u201d Wills said, according to a Thursday release from the Air Force. \u201cTheir names [are] forever associated with courage and bravery, mission accomplishment and excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At around 5:30 p.m. EST that day, Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles at U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq, 10 of which struck al-Asad Air Base.<\/p>\n\n\n\t