Technical Sergeant Dustin Goodwin
Security Forces, 48th Security Forces Squadron, Lakenheath Air Base, United Kingdom

In November 2010, while deployed to a forward operating base in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, on a joint tasking with the Army, Technical Sergeant DUSTIN GOODWIN repelled a three-hour complex attack against his base.

Twenty enemy insurgents armed with rocket-propelled grenades, PG-7s, AK-47s, PKM light machine guns, hand grenades, and suicide vests stormed the outer base perimeter. One RPG exploded directly in front of Sergeant Goodwin on the perimeter wall. Unfazed, Sergeant Goodwin engaged the enemy and killed one fighter armed with an AK-47 rifle. Moments later, enemy fighters just 10 meters from Sergeant Goodwin and his team threw a hand grenade which landed and exploded just to the rear of their position. The blast threw the entire fire team against the perimeter wall. They were then attacked with more than 200 rounds of enemy fire. Despite being dazed from the explosion, Sergeant Goodwin and his team continued to engage the enemy and repel the attack. Soon another explosion, this time from an RPG, detonated against the wall by Sergeant Goodwin. Again, there was another onslaught of enemy fire. Sergeant Goodwin and his fire team stood fast until an enemy hand grenade was thrown over the wall, wounding four U.S. forces, including two of from Sergeant Goodwin’s team.

Recognizing the situation was becoming more dangerous by the moment, Sergeant Goodwin risked his life by leaning over the wall, engaging and killing the two enemy fighters below who had thrown the hand grenades. Now with some breathing room, he teamed with his U.S. Army counterparts and radioed for close air support. A “Danger Close” situation was authorized, and Apache Helicopters engaged the enemy, as close as 10 meters from Sergeant Goodwin’s position. At last, the enemy was defeated and the base perimeter held fast.

Sergeant Goodwin’s leadership and courage under fire turned the tide of the battle. The after action report revealed that enemy forces still had more than 26 hand grenades, three RPG-7s, 20 PG-7s, four AK-47s, three PKMs and five suicide vests. Sergeant Goodwin’s position was credited with nine enemy personnel killed. Sergeant Goodwin was personally credited with three.

For his extraordinary actions, dedication to mission accomplishment, and service to his country, Sergeant Goodwin was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Air Force Combat Action Medal, and the Army Combat Action Badge.