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bobdina
07-31-2009, 12:23 PM
The Air Force Cross was established in 1960 to honor heroism of the highest degree that did not merit the Medal of Honor. Previously airmen of the Army Air Corps were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for such actions. The medal became an exclusive award of the United States Air Force to replace the Army award for members of their own branch of service. The Navy Cross and the Distinguished Service Cross all join the Air Force Cross as the second highest U.S. military award

Timothy Wilkinson

* Date of birth: 1 Dec. 1957
* Place of birth: Corry, Pa.
* Home of record: Norfolk, Va.
*

When Timothy Wilkinson earned the Air Force Cross he became the first enlisted man to earn the award since 1975. His mission was supporting Task Force Ranger during an 15-hour firefight, the longest sustained firefight by U.S. forces since the Vietnam War, and a battle that was subsequently made into the movie "Blackhawk Down." Two Army Special Forces Soldiers, Randall Shughart and Gary Gordon, were posthumously awarded Medals of Honor for this mission, and more than 40 Silver Stars were awarded for heroism in that same action.

Awards and Citations

1.
Air Force Cross

Awarded for actions during the United Nations Operations in Somalia II

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Technical Sergeant Timothy A. Wilkinson, United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as a 24th Special Tactics Squadron Pararescueman in the vicinity of the Olympic Hotel, Mogadishu, Somalia, during Operation RESTORE HOPE from 3 October 1993 to 4 October 1993. During that period, in response to an incident in which a United States helicopter had been shot down by a rocket propelled grenade, Sergeant Wilkinson conducted a fast rope insertion into the crash site and came under extremely heavy enemy fire from three directions. In the initial rescue effort, he repeatedly exposed himself to intense small arms fire and grenades to clear debris, provide emergency medical treatment to the survivors, and extract dead and wounded members of the crew from the wreckage. On his own initiative, Sergeant Wilkinson broke cover on three separate occasions to locate and provide emergency medical treatment to three Ranger casualties. In doing so, he ignored all concern for his personal safety to cross a 45 meter-wide open area blanketed with intense fire from small arms, and rocket propelled grenades. Sergeant Wilkinson's medical skills and uncommon valor saved the lives of multiple gravely wounded American soldiers in the longest sustained fire fight involving United States combat forces in over 20 years. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Sergeant Wilkinson reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Service: Air Force

Rank: Technical Sergeant

nastyleg
07-31-2009, 03:19 PM
Another in the Balls o steel hall of fame.