Kadena pilots awarded Combat Action Medals

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Justin Veazie
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Two HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter pilots received Combat Action Medals from Brig. Gen. Matthew Molloy, 18th Wing commander, for their actions while deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan last year. The general also presented several AIr Medals and Air Force Commendation Medals to five other 33rd Rescue Squadron Airmen.

On April 23, 2011, Capt. Louis Nolting, 18th Wing flight safety officer, and Capt. Elliott Milliken, 33rd Rescue Squadron, received a "Fallen Angel" report - indicating a downed aircraft.

Aircrews deployed from the 33rd RQS at Kadena Air Base, Japan, and 212th RQS from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, sprang into action. 

Nolting and Milliken played a critical role in recovering the downed Army aircraft while being shot at by enemy forces. The two pilots also helped recover an injured pilot and a fallen comrade.

"The greatest testament and validation of this noble mission is when a Marine, Soldier, Sailor, or Special Operator recognizes our "PEDRO" patch, which is the patch and callsign used by rescue crews in Operation Enduring Freedom," said Lt. Col. Pedro Ortiz, 33rd RQS director of operations. "They usually thank us and talk about the specific mission when we saved or attempted to save their brothers, and refused to let the enemy turn us away. I'm so proud of my Airmen and it's such an honor to lead these highly decorated men and women in combat. Capt. Nolting and Milliken's Combat Action Medal is an example of rescue's commitment "so that others may live."

Milliken said the training he received played a huge part in the mission's success as well as the rest of the deployment.

"All the training that I have been through, pretty much took over during the mission," he said. "I just instantly knew what needed to be done and worked to get it done."