Total Force C-17 aircrew awarded Distinguished Flying Cross

Maj. Gen. Matthew J. Burger, Air Force Reserve deputy commander, awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross to four C-17A Globemaster III aircrew members during a ceremony at Travis Air Force Base, April 1.

Three Reserve Airmen assigned to the 349th Air Mobility Wing at Travis AFB, and an active-duty Airman assigned to the 3rd Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, were recognized for answering their nation's call when they helped evacuate Americans and their allies out of Afghanistan during Operation Allies Refuge in August 2021.

During the ceremony, Burger, the former commander of the 349th AMW, presented the medals to Lt. Col. Dominic Calderon, 1st Lt. Kyle Anderson and Master Sgt. Silva Foster, from the 301st Airlift Squadron, and Senior Airman Michael Geller of the 517th Airlift Squadron. Also recognized during the ceremony was Staff Sgt. Dennis Gonzales-Furman, assigned to the 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. Gonzales-Furman served as the aircrew's flying crew chief during their mission in Afghanistan.

The DFC is awarded to officers or enlisted members of the U.S. armed forces who distinguish themselves in combat in support of operations through heroism or extraordinary achievement in combat aviation.

During the ceremony, Burger touched upon the significance of the four Reserve Airmen receiving the honor.

"Within the Reserves, we only have 45 people right now who have received this award," Burger said. "Only five of those were mobility Airmen. The last time a mobility Airman was awarded this award was in 2004. This is a unique and special, and an extraordinary achievement while conducting flight operations."

The Air Force Reserve Command deputy commander awards the Distinguished Flying Cross to four C-17A Globemaster III aircrew members during a ceremony at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., Apr. 1, 2022. Three Reserve Citizen Airmen assigned to the 349th Air Mobility Wing at Travis, and an active duty Airman from the 3rd Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, were recognized for answering their nation's call when they helped evacuate Americans and their allies out of Afghanistan during Operation Allies Refuge in August 2021. During the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Matthew J. Burger, the former commander of the 349th AMW, presented the medals to Lt. Col. Dominic Calderon, 1st Lt. Kyle Anderson and Master Sgt. Silva Foster, from the 301st Airlift Squadron, and Senior Airman Michael Geller of the 517th Airlift Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Grant Okubo) — Lt. Col. Dominic S. Calderon, 301st Airlift Squadron chief of training, 1st Lt. Kyle Anderson, 301st AS assistant operations officer, Master Sgt. Silva Foster, 301st AS loadmaster, Senior Airman Michael Geller, 517th Airlift Squadron loadmaster and Staff Sgt. Dennis Gonzalez-Furman, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron flying crew chief, stand during a ceremony honoring them as recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., April 1, 2022. The four honorees received the medal for their role in evacuating Americans and their allies out of Afghanistan during Operation Allies Refuge in August 2021. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Green)

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