Chief Warrant Officer 3 Daniel Lynn, Co. B, 1-3rd Aviation Regiment, is awarded the Air Medal for valor, as well as an Air Medal for service, by Lt. Col. Paul Marnon, commander of 1-3rd Avn. Regt., during a ceremony June 5 at Baghdad International Airport. (U.S. Army photo/Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Mills)

Two pilots with Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division were awarded the Air Medal for valor for their actions during an engagement with an enemy anti-aircraft machine gun team.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Daniel Lynn, Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, and 1st Lt. Ryan Murphy, also with Company B, were investigating a suspicious vehicle during a security mission south of Baghdad Sept. 6, when their aircraft was hit by small-arms fire from insurgents. Lynn noticed muzzle flashes from a heavy caliber AA machine gun manned by two enemy fighters.

Lynn and Murphy faced down the heavy-caliber weapon as it fired at them and another AH-64 Apache. Murphy fired the attack helicopter’s 30 mm cannon, killing the two enemy gunners.

The pilots then destroyed the AA gun with a Hellfire missile.

Both pilots were also awarded Air Medals for their service during their deployment to Iraq, which began in May 2007.

Lt. Col. Paul Marnon, commander of 1-3rd Aviation Regiment, pins the Air Medal for valor on the chest of 1st Lt. Ryan Murphy, platoon leader, Co. B, 1-3rd Avn. Regt. (U.S. Army photo/Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Mills)

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Air Medal [2]

1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade’s commander, Lt. Col. John Thompson, pins an air medal on 1st Lt. Joshua England for his heroic actions during an offensive against enemy activity in the Kirkuk Province during an award ceremony held Feb. 2 at Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq. The OH 58-D Blackhawk pilot received the medal for his quick action in aiding Soldiers with the 1-10th Mountain Division’s 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, during an offensive against enemy activity in the Kirkuk Province. England was one of two pilots that thwarted an ambush by armed extremists who were laying in wait for the 1-87 Soldiers as they maneuvered into a village. Both pilots opened fire on the unknown enemy killing one, wounding two and dispersing the others. As a result of their heroic actions, the 1-87 Inf. Soldiers were able to accomplish their mission, which resulted in the capture of a high-value target on a list of wanted extremists.

Chief Warrant Officer William McKenna receives an Air Medal from 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade’s commander, Lt. Col. John Thompson, for his heroic actions during an offensive against enemy activity in the Kirkuk Province during an award ceremony held Feb. 2 at Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq. The OH 58-D Blackhawk pilot received the medal for his quick action in aiding Soldiers with the 1-10th Mountain Division’s 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, during an offensive against enemy activity in the Kirkuk Province. McKenna was one of two pilots that thwarted an ambush by armed extremists who were laying in wait for the 1-87 Soldiers as they maneuvered into a village.

Photos by Spc. Jason Jordan, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs