Master Sergeant Kevin Fife
Mi-17/Mi-35 Crew Chief, 440th Air Expeditionary, Kabul, Afghanistan

From November 2009 to November 2010, Master Sergeant KEVIN FIFE deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, in support of the 440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron. Sergeant Fife served as the Rotary Wing Lead Crew Chief advisor to the Afghan Air Force Mi-17/ Mi-35 fleet. This was his third deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and, by his own accord, one of the most memorable experiences of his life.

Early in the morning on July 28, 2010, the Air Advisory Group was informed the Kabul River was flooding severely in the Jalalabad Valley. The rapidly rising waters trapped thousands of local Afghan people. Sergeant Fife was hand-picked by the Group Commander to be part of a relief mission on two Mi-17s, deemed Afghan Rescue Flight 705.

The helicopters quickly flew to the swollen river valley. Upon arrival, the two Mi-17 crews began picking up the local Afghan people that were stranded by the rising water. After multiple landings, Sergeant Fife risked his own life by reaching down and lifting up two Afghans stranded on a narrow embankment while the pilot expertly hovered the aircraft. At the end of the day, the team rescued more than 250 people.

The next morning Afghan Rescue Flight 705 responded to more calls for help and for a second day in a row, Sergeant Fife risked his life to save Afghans. This time, as he was assisting two children on board the helicopter they were swept down the river. He immediately jumped into the water and went after them.

His pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Willi said, “[If] he continued down the river, there was nothing I could do but watch. Once he was able to retrieve and secure the children, he picked them both up, tucked them under his arms and trudged through the rotor wash and rushing river back to the helicopter. The sight of him making his way back to the helicopter was something I’ll never forget.”

Sergeant Fife performed admirably. In two days Afghan Rescue Flight 705 saved over 2,100 Afghan people from the raging water of the Kabul River in both the Jalalabad and Kunar Valleys.

For his actions during his deployment and while supporting the Kabul River rescue mission, Sergeant Fife received the Bronze Star and was nominated for the Airman’s Medal.