JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. – History was made on November 21, 2022, as 51 Airmen were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross during a ceremony held at Joint Base Charleston, SC. U.S. Air Force General Mike Minihan, commander of Air Mobility Command, presented the award to mobility Airmen for their actions in Operations Allies Refuge. Among the recipients of the award was USAF Staff Sgt. Sean McPadden, Flying Crew Chief for the 437th Airlift Wing.
Operations Allies Refuge was a U.S. Military operation to airlift certain at-risk Afghan civilians, U.S. Embassy employees, and other Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants from Afghanistan in August 2021. U.S. personnel also helped NATO and regional allies in their respective evacuation efforts from Hamid Karzai Intl. Airport in the country’s capital of Kabul.
The DFC ceremony was the largest of its kind in decades. “The men and women from this installation were ready to do whatever it took to deliver the forces needed to secure Kabul airport and then to evacuate and save as many lives as possible,” Minihan said. “It’s what they did next that displayed heroism and selfless devotion to duty – the reason for today’s ceremony.”
The DFC recipients consisted of pilots, loadmasters, flying crew chiefs, and a flight nurse.
Most of the DFC recipients were aircrew from the 437th Airlift Wing, recognized for their participation in the final U.S. flights in and out of Afghanistan on Aug. 30, 2021. As they entered the airspace surrounding Hamid Karzai Intl. Airport, crews observed air defense artillery, flares, and heavy machine gun fire, as well as reports of rooftop snipers in the area.
Despite the dangerous conditions crews successfully landed their aircraft without lighting and executed mission maneuvers to minimize time on the ground. A compromised airfield meant a risky departure, but they took off in formation with all remaining U.S. military forces accounted for and safely on board. Sgt. McPadden and his crew flew multiple missions in and out of Kabul in direct support to the evacuation of Afghan civilians and American assets. He and his crew were part of the Final Five formation out of Kabul.
During the ceremony, Minihan also presented DFC’s to the 315th AW Aircrew for successfully delivering a baby while in flight. With limited medical equipment and only one trained medic on board, the team delivered the baby and cared for the mother and child while also evacuating 456 Afghans.
The remaining DFC recipients, from the 437th AW, heroically executed OAR missions despite multiple dangerous and chaotic breaches of HKIA. During one mission, when thousands of people breached the airfield, they were ordered to depart immediately. As aircrew quickly prepped the aircraft for departure, they discovered an electrical malfunction. The quick and decisive maintenance actions taken by the flying crew chief got his crew out of a perilous situation.
During OAR, the largest non-combatant evacuation in American history, each of these 51 Airmen went into a dangerous environment to evacuate tens of thousands of refugees in just 17 days. The Distinguished Flying Cross, authorized by Congress on July 2, 1926, is the fourth highest award for extraordinary achievement and is the highest award for heroism while participating in aerial flight.
Most of the DFC’s were awarded with the “C” device, which was established in 2016 to symbolize that the medal was earned for exceptionally meritorious service or achievement performed under combat conditions.
“Today is a powerful day to honor the giants among us. It’s been 15 months since our nation’s sons and daughters displayed their selfless duty,” Minihan said. “To the warriors of the front rows today, and to those families whose pride has always swelled for your Airman, who instantly recognize their heroism and valor, this recognition is long overdue.”
McPadden is currently stationed in Charleston, S.C. and works in MASOP (Maintenance and Special Operations). In April 2023, he is taking orders to Ramstein AFB, Germany, where he will be stationed for three years. Sean is the son of Mike and Jean McPadden of Garretson.
UPDATE 12/15/22: Correction of McPadden's designation to Staff Sgt at the time of pinning and minor grammatical changes.
