Staff Sergeant Zachary Rhyner: Combat Controller 

Then-Senior Airman Zachary Rhyner, a combat controller, was deployed to Afghanistan, supporting Special Forces and Afghani Commando units. In April ’08, during a 6 ½-hour air-assault raid to capture high-level terrorists, his team was attacked in a complex ambush.

His 10-man element climbed a near-vertical, 60-foot cliff to reach the mountain top objective, while sniper, machine-gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire poured down. Within 15 minutes, enemy forces killed one and wounded three teammates, including Sergeant Rhyner. They were pinned down. Insurgent forces on the high ground maneuvered 40 feet from the team. With disregard for his own life, and while his left leg was being treated for a gunshot wound, Sergeant Rhyner directed and controlled more than 50 “danger-close” air strikes and strafing runs against an estimated 200 well-trained insurgent forces. The strafing runs were within 100 to 200 meters, hammering the enemy forces with cannon fire, Hellfire rockets, 500-pound bombs, and a 2,000-pound bomb. The blasts showered the team with dirt and debris, but ultimately killed the enemy.

Sergeant Rhyner repeatedly risked his life by placing himself between enemy forces and wounded soldiers. Even while he was lowered by rope from the cliff, Sergeant Rhyner continued to direct fire from aircraft overhead. Additionally, he fired more than 100 rounds from his M-4 rifle to deter the enemy’s advance and protect his team. His selfless actions saved the lives of the entire team, eliminated 40 insurgents and injured another 100.

For his actions, Sergeant Rhyner received the Air Force Cross and the Purple Heart.