Frankie sends us a link to the story of Air Force Staff Sergeant Keaton Thiem and his Silver Star Medal actions in Afghanistan on February 22nd while he was deployed with an Army Special Forces Team in Bagram Province;
While controlling air power, he led a recovery team into a hail of heavy enemy fire several times to rescue pinned-down Afghan commandos who had been separated from the main force.
In a small group and apart from the main element, Thiem was taking direct fire from enemies in defensive fighting positions. He made his way through a hail of gunfire in open terrain for 100 meters to locate and account for a separated friendly element before calling in additional airstrikes.
The Air Force Times has a more complete narrative of the events that earned the young sergeant the Silver Star and you should read it there and not here.
BZ!
Another real hero.
USAF Spec Ops (PJ’s, CAC’s and their support) = BAD
BAD ASS DUDES
Be grateful that such men have lived !!!
I am humbled by men and women such as this.
Wow. Combat Controllers are some seriously bad-ass dudes! Great story.
Holy Hell….I literally got goosebumps reading that account. BZ SSgt Kheim!
Badass.
Damned well done Staff Sergeant Thiem!
Well, it happened this year so at least we know this one is not an upgraded Bronze Star.
What’s that clanging sound…
Well done SSgt. As we said in my past life in the Navy, Bravo Zulu for a job well done!
100 Meters–that’s longer than an NFL playing field and under the conditions Thiem braved, a helluva lot more dangerous.
Well done SSGT Thiem and in the finest traditions of the Airborne.
Yeah, that was some amazing reading and some stone cold big balls work done by an outstanding member of the Air Force…
Well done, SSGT.
I’m not worthy to carry water for the SSGT.
BZ indeed.