For only the second time since World War II, a U.S. Marine Corps aviator has received the British Distinguished Flying Cross.
Capt. Brian Jordan was given the award Wednesday in Washington D.C. for his actions in Afghanistan in 2012, when he was credited with landing his UH-1Y Venom helicopter in the middle of a firefight to rescue two wounded British soldiers, according to the American Forces Press Service.
U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Brian Jordan on Wednesday, was awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross, for helping save two wounded British soldiers in Afghanistan in June 2012. Brian was the flight commander on a UH-1Y Venom combat helicopter assigned to support the British ground troops. He is only the second U.S. Marine aviator to receive the award since World War II, according to a report released Thursday by the American Forces Press Service
Britain awards the medal to aviators whose actions show “exemplary gallantry in the air in presence of the enemy.” It's equivalent to the United States' Silver Star, the third-highest medal given for valor in combat, according to a military report.
While assigned to the California-based Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, Jordan and his aircrew were providing air cover for the British Grenadier Guard, from Camp Bastion in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, according to the report.
On June 21, 2012, Jordan and his crew, and the crew of a U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper Super Cobra helicopter, were supporting the British ground troops on patrol. They had used up most of their fuel and ordnance to help suppress an attack on pinned-down British troops.
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A Bell UH-1Y Venom such as the one piloted by Capt. Jordan
Two British soldiers were wounded. One of them lost a limb and was going into shock, according to the news report. The British troops asked for immediate medical evacuation, according to the report.
Jordan’s crew calculated it would take 30 minutes for an evacuation helicopter to arrive. “I talked to the crew, and we made the assessment that we were all comfortable with going down to pick up the wounded soldier,” Jordan was quoted as saying.
“We then heard over the radio that there was no time, and he won’t make it,” Jordan said. “We all agreed this is what we need to do. We talked to our section leader and told him our intention. And he said they would provide cover fire as we went down for the pick.”
According to the news report, Jordan’s crew landed between the enemy fighters and the British soldiers. Although they were on the ground about 10 seconds, Jordan said it felt like “an eternity.”
“Very low on fuel,” he said, they were able to lift the soldiers out and fly them to Camp Bastion. Both soldiers survived, according to the report.
The article does not identify the first U.S. Marine to be awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross.
Capt. Brian Jordan was given the award Wednesday in Washington D.C. for his actions in Afghanistan in 2012, when he was credited with landing his UH-1Y Venom helicopter in the middle of a firefight to rescue two wounded British soldiers, according to the American Forces Press Service.
U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Brian Jordan on Wednesday, was awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross, for helping save two wounded British soldiers in Afghanistan in June 2012. Brian was the flight commander on a UH-1Y Venom combat helicopter assigned to support the British ground troops. He is only the second U.S. Marine aviator to receive the award since World War II, according to a report released Thursday by the American Forces Press Service
Britain awards the medal to aviators whose actions show “exemplary gallantry in the air in presence of the enemy.” It's equivalent to the United States' Silver Star, the third-highest medal given for valor in combat, according to a military report.
While assigned to the California-based Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, Jordan and his aircrew were providing air cover for the British Grenadier Guard, from Camp Bastion in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, according to the report.
On June 21, 2012, Jordan and his crew, and the crew of a U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper Super Cobra helicopter, were supporting the British ground troops on patrol. They had used up most of their fuel and ordnance to help suppress an attack on pinned-down British troops.
A Bell UH-1Y Venom such as the one piloted by Capt. Jordan
Two British soldiers were wounded. One of them lost a limb and was going into shock, according to the news report. The British troops asked for immediate medical evacuation, according to the report.
Jordan’s crew calculated it would take 30 minutes for an evacuation helicopter to arrive. “I talked to the crew, and we made the assessment that we were all comfortable with going down to pick up the wounded soldier,” Jordan was quoted as saying.
“We then heard over the radio that there was no time, and he won’t make it,” Jordan said. “We all agreed this is what we need to do. We talked to our section leader and told him our intention. And he said they would provide cover fire as we went down for the pick.”
According to the news report, Jordan’s crew landed between the enemy fighters and the British soldiers. Although they were on the ground about 10 seconds, Jordan said it felt like “an eternity.”
“Very low on fuel,” he said, they were able to lift the soldiers out and fly them to Camp Bastion. Both soldiers survived, according to the report.
The article does not identify the first U.S. Marine to be awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross.