Airmen Honored For Iraqi Airdrop

One year after they led the biggest combat airdrop since Operation Just Cause in Panama in December 1989, five Airmen from McChord Air Force Base (WA) are the winners of the National Aeronautic Association's Clarence Mackay Trophy for 2003. Lt. Col. Shane Hershman, from the 7th Airlift Squadron; Maj. Bob Colvin, from the 8th AS; 1st Lt. Matt Clausen, from the 4th AS; Master Sgt. Shawn Brumfield, from the 62nd Operations Group; and Master Sgt. Chris Dockery, from the 7th AS, were the aircrew for Vijay 10. It was the lead C-17 Globemaster III on the March 26, 2003, airdrop over northern Iraq. The association, along with the Air Force, announced March 25 the award for the crew’s heroic service in the war in Iraq.

The award is presented annually for the most meritorious flight of the year and for gallantry, intrepidity, unusual initiative and resourcefulness. It recognizes achievement of outstanding results with unusual presence of mind in either combat or noncombat conditions, officials said.

The initial airdrop of 1,000 Soldiers occurred over Bashur, Iraq. It opened the northern front to combat operations and constituted the largest formation airdrop since D-Day in World War II. Air Force officials called the mission the most demanding C-17 mission in the aircraft's history, and it marked the first time people were dropped from the C-17 during combat.

After the initial insertion, Vijay 10 crewmembers, along with active and Reserve crews from Charleston AFB, S.C., and McChord, flew four more night missions.

For their distinguished service in combat, NAA will present the five Airmen of Vijay 10 with the Mackay Trophy at the association's fall awards banquet later this year. The Mackay Trophy was first awarded in 1911; the original trophy is on display at the National Air and Space Museum. (Courtesy of Air Mobility Command News Service)

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