Daily Report

April 30, 2015

The Air Force on May 6 will award three air commandos at Pope Army Airfield, N.C., an Air Force Cross and two Silver Stars for courageous actions during a 48-hour battle in Afghanistan. SrA. Dustin Temple will receive the Air Force Cross—the second highest award for valor behind only the Medal of Honor—while TSgt. Matthew Greiner and SrA. Goodie Goodman will receive the Silver Star. All three are special tactics combat controllers assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command’s 21st Special Tactics Squadron at Pope, according to an April 29 release. The airmen “are credited with saving the lives of 38 coalition soldiers when ammo was low and nearly 100 insurgents surged to capture the team,” states the release. Temple will be the seventh airman to receive the Air Force Cross in the global war on terror. “This is the second battle in the last 15 years … that has resulted in multiple decorations of the highest valor,” states the release. AFSOC Commander Lt. Gen. Bradley Heithold will officiate the ceremony. Vice Adm. Sean Pybus, deputy commander of US Special Operations Command, also will provide remarks, states the release.