French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian presented SSgt. Greggory Swarz the Legion d’Honneur medal on Monday, honoring Swarz for risking his life to save three French airmen during a deadly aircraft accident in Spain in January. “He did not hesitate to throw himself in the flames to save his comrades,” said Le Drian during the award presentation at the Paris Air Show, reported AFP. Swarz dragged the airmen from the flames after a Greek F-16 crashed into several parked aircraft during a NATO training event at Los Llanos AB, Spain, on Jan. 26. “It’s human nature. There’s people suffering, you’ve got to do as much as you can,” said Swarz. “I saw some stuff that shouldn’t really be talked about. Some pretty horrific things,” he said. Swarz is an aircraft electrical technician assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, Britain. He received the Airman’s Medal earlier this year for his bravery.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.