Wed, Mar 31, 2004
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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