[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 17685-17686]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING LIEUTENANT COLONEL RHYS W. HUNT, 2ND LIEUTENANT ANDREW S. 
   HEDIN, AND CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT JASON R. RED UPON RECEIPT OF THE 
                 DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS WITH VALOR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 16, 2011

  Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge and 
honor Lieutenant Colonel Rhys W. Hunt, 2nd Lieutenant Andrew S. Hedin, 
and Chief Master Sergeant Jason R. Red upon their award of the 
Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor.
  The Distinguished Flying Cross is America's oldest military aviation 
award. In 1926, the 69th Congress established the Distinguished Flying 
Cross to honor any person serving in the Armed Forces who distinguishes 
him or herself ``by heroism or extraordinary achievement while 
participating in an aerial flight.''
  On August 9, 2009, Lieutenant Colonel Rhys W. Hunt, 2nd Lieutenant 
Andrew S. Hedin, and Chief Master Sergeant Jason R. Red participated in 
a heroic mission near Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan. Colonel Hunt 
flew the lead aircraft, PEDRO 15, in an effort to save five critically 
wounded American soldiers from an ongoing firefight. A Navy SEAL Team, 
call sign JAGUAR 09, was taking heavy fire by a larger force of Taliban 
fighters. The team, including their five wounded, was holed-up in a 
walled compound and needed immediate evacuation.
  Despite the potential of enemy fire, Lieutenant Hedin supervised the 
loading of four of the wounded before the aircraft cabin ran out of 
space. Colonel Hunt directed his wingman to begin an approach to load 
the final patient, but as PEDRO 15 began its climb out of the zone, it 
came under fire so intense that both Lieutenant Hedin and Colonel Hunt 
felt the concussion from the blast. Lieutenant Hedin engaged an enemy 
squad, temporarily suppressing the threat. Chief Red took tactical

[[Page 17686]]

lead of the aircraft, calling a break in the opposite direction. 
Putting himself in grave danger, Chief Red then directed the gunnery 
pattern by positioning himself almost completely out of the aircraft in 
order to maintain visual contact with the enemy. This allowed Colonel 
Hunt and Lieutenant Hedin to protect their vulnerable wingman by 
attacking the enemy squad from multiple directions. The crew's immense 
bravery and superb airmanship saved the lives of 16 people and two 
aircraft.
  It was my honor and privilege to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Rhys W. 
Hunt, 2nd Lieutenant Andrew S. Hedin, and Chief Master Sergeant Jason 
R. Red at a ceremony while I was home in my district. The outstanding 
heroism displayed by these men deserves great recognition by the entire 
United States, the nation they have so selflessly served. They have the 
respect and gratitude of all Americans.

                          ____________________