Major Thomas Bozung
55th Rescue Squadron, Pilot, HH-60G Pave Hawk

In January 2010, then-Captain Thomas Bozung began his third deployment in just eleven months, returning to Afghanistan to fly Casualty Evacuation and Personnel Recovery missions as a pilot of the HH-60G Pave Hawk.

During this deployment, Major Bozung completed many demanding missions, but perhaps his toughest was on March 1. On that day, his flight scrambled to rescue two International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Soldiers who were wounded in an ongoing firefight and required urgent evacuation.

A Coalition casualty evacuation helicopter had attempted to pick up the Soldiers, but was unsuccessful due to the confined environment. Knowing that time was critical, Major Bozung considered the risks and valiantly decided to continue to the site.

The landing site was again declared too confined to land and Major Bozung was forced to abort the initial approach less than ten feet above the roof top. He then directed his crew to begin a hoist exfiltration, but within seconds the aircraft came under fire. Major Bozung maintained his hover and rotated the aircraft, enabling his aerial gunner and pararescuemen to engage the insurgents while his flight engineer secured a hoist for another rescue attempt.

During the perilous engagement, the injured Soldiers were moved to an area where a helicopter could land. Consequently, Major Bozung’s wingman landed, recovered both patients, and egressed the zone in under 45 seconds. Meanwhile, Major Bozung’s crew provided precise suppressive fire which enabled the patients to be safely evacuated.

For his heroism, Major Bozung was awarded the Air Medal with Valor.