Two Moody Airmen Receive DFCs with Valor

Two airmen from Moody AFB, Ga., were recently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor for their heroic actions in Afghanistan last year. Capt. Aaron Palan is an A-10C pilot with the 75th Fighter Squadron; and Capt. Thaddeus Ronnau, is an HH-60G pilot with the 41st Rescue Squadron, according to a Moody release issued Aug. 12. On Oct. 1, 2010, Palan and his A-10 wingman were sent to support a Special Forces team that had been ambushed by Taliban forces. Palan deployed four precision-guided munitions, 1,150 rounds of 30mm munitions, and three white phosphorus rockets helping to ward off the enemy’s attack and contributing to the death of 20 to 30 insurgents. His “superior leadership, exemplary airmanship, and skilled weapons employment saved a Special Forces team from certain defeat,” stated his DFC citation. It was only his fourth sortie since his initial A-10 mission qualification. On June 27, 2010, Ronnau conducted eight non-stop casualty evacuation missions over several hours, saving the lives of 13 US and coalition troops. Two of the evacuations required difficult maneuvers that are not part of routine operations.