TSgt John Demasco, TACP 

Technical Sergeant John DeMaso epitomizes the warrior Airman. Then-Staff Sergeant DeMaso deployed as the Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) for an Army Special Forces team operating in the vicinity of Suwayrah, Iraq.

During combat action in February 2007, Sergeant DeMaso participated in a raid to clear a local village of anti-Iraqi forces. As the Special Forces team advanced, the enemy opened fire from multiple positions with heavy machine guns, small arms, sniper and mortar fire. Sergeant DeMaso, in spite of his exposure to direct enemy fire, climbed onto a hilltop in order to effectively manage inbound close air support (CAS) aircraft. DeMaso spotted, engaged and eliminated an enemy sniper position with his M-4 rifle while coordinating CAS strikes to allow the Soldiers to regroup. He then called for additional strikes, destroying an enemy resupply truck, eliminating several enemy positions, and killing numerous insurgents.

DeMaso’s further coordination with two F-16 pilots resulted in the destruction of an enemy mortar position and two safehouses, thwarting an enemy attempt to rally and counterattack. Covering the safe departure of Coalition forces, he then coordinated for three additional strafing runs from two A-10 aircraft. These strafing runs eliminated the enemy massed along the opposite side of the Tigris River in preparation for a counterattack.

Sergeant DeMaso’s heroics that day resulted in no losses to Coalition forces.