A Bagram Air Base press release highlights the derring-do of two A-10 pilots who “save[d] 60 Soldiers during [a] convoy ambush.”

The pilots continued to fire 30 mm rounds, but the enemy force refused to fall back. …The convoy’s commander approved the pilots to engage “danger-close.” The term is meant to clearly communicate to the ground and air forces that the need for support is so grave the ground commander is willing to accept the potential risk to the friendly unit for the life-saving employment from the air…

The engagement lasted two hours that day, and in that time, the A-10s completed 15 gun passes, fired nearly all their 2,300, 30-mm rounds, and dropped three 500-pound bombs on the enemy force.

It is slightly unusual to see a press release so specifically highlight and laud a specific engagement, especially outside of an award presentation.  While it seems a bit like the Air Force is ‘tooting its own horn,’ it was certainly a notable event, and it seems all the troops made it back to base.

Just as an aside, the Air Force is the only service without a Medal of Honor recipient for service in either Iraq or Afghanistan.

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