Eleven members of the Tennessee Air National Guard's 134th Air Refueling Wing were recently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for their displays of extraordinary heroism and aerial achievement during a mission earlier this year. According to WVLT8, the ceremony, which took place at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, recognized the airmen for their critical role in Operation True Promise, a response to a massive missile and drone assault by Iran on Israel on April 13.
According to details from a WATE report, the aircrews were deployed to the 350th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, at the time of the incident, which made it necessary for the 134th aircrews to provide essential aerial refueling support to the U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles those ensuring their continued operations against the incoming threat despite the aircrews operating without onboard defensive systems or advanced situational awareness tools in contested airspace, they delivered proficiently under high-stakes conditions.
The honorees, as detailed in reports by DVIDS, included Lt. Col. Willis Parker, Maj. Lance Welch, Maj. Stacy Sells, Maj. Cody Gaby, Capt. Andrew Weber, Capt. James Spearman, Capt. Joshua Johnson, Tech. Sgt. Hunter Ricks, Tech. Sgt. Gage Seymour, Tech. Sgt. Joshua Osborne, and Senior Airman Jonah Parham. Their actions were instrumental in enabling the interception of over 99% of the threats from the attack, subsequently preventing massive casualties, as per Israeli military reports confirmed.
"We had no time to second-guess. We knew what was at stake," Lt. Col. Willis Parker, a KC-135R Stratotanker pilot, told DVIDS. Brig. Gen. Lee Hartley, Tennessee Assistant Adjutant General, Air emphasized the courageous conduct of the airmen, staking, "These Airmen exemplify the highest standards of courage and professionalism."
The Distinguished Flying Cross is one of the highest military honors for airmen, and the crew members of the 134th Air Refueling Wing have secured their place in history through their selfless service. They join an elite group of aviators whose skilled actions have played a crucial role in the success of numerous missions worldwide.
