By Michael Brooke
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CAF
AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd presents SQNLDR Matt Hall with medals
for his service while attached to a US Air Force fighter
squadron in Iraq in 2003.
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Photo
by CPL Peter Borys
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WHEN
Squadron Leader Matt Hall dropped precision-guided munitions from
his F-15E Strike Eagle during the initial wave of Coalition attacks
against Iraq during Operation Falconer, he wasn’t thinking
about being recognised by the US Air Force.
“I was only thinking about getting the job done and coming
back in one piece,” he said.
The Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd, presented
him both Australian and American awards for his service with the
US Air Force’s 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.
In addition to the Australian Active Service Medal, Squadron Leader
Hall was presented with the US Air Force’s Aerial Achievement
Medal and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster at RAAF Base Williamtown
on October 6.
“I was shot at many times by anti-aircraft guns and surface-to-air
missiles, but you don’t think about being hit when you get
into the cockpit of your aircraft before a mission,” he said.
Squadron Leader Hall was awarded the US Air Force Aerial Achievement
Medal for his actions on March 22, 2003.
Squadron Leader Hall was number three in a four-ship mission to
find and destroy armoured vehicles and artillery
pieces of the Medina Republican Guard in south-east Baghdad. His
formation was re-tasked while airborne to target headquarters
buildings.
“Squadron Leader Hall led his element into the heavily defended
target area, found the headquarters buildings and executed a series
of crippling attacks on the main facility,” Air Marshal Shepherd
said.
“After initial success, Squadron Leader Hall continued to
attack military vehicles and buildings in the target area. A total
of five buildings, two artillery pieces and two armoured vehicles
were destroyed.”
During his last attack, Squadron Leader Hall was targeted by anti
aircraft artillery and was forced to execute defensive manoeuvres.
Air Marshal Shepherd said that for his professional skill, heroism
and airmanship, Squadron Leader Hall was awarded the Air Medal
and the First Oak Leaf Cluster.
Squadron Leader Hall’s heroism comes as no surprise to his
family, particularly his grandfather, who was a World War II pilot.
Squadron Leader Hall, who has been in the Air Force for the past
15 years, said it was always his dream as a child to be a fighter
pilot and “being a pilot in an F-15, arguably the best combat
aircraft in the world, is a dream come true”.
The
Air Medal
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THE
Air Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity
in or with the armed forces of the US shall have distinguished
himself by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial
flight.
Awards may be made to recognise single acts of merit or heroism,
or for meritorious service.
Award of the Air Medal is primarily intended to recognise those
personnel who are on current crew member or non-crew-member flying
status, which requires them to participate in aerial flight on
a regular and frequent basis in the performance of their primary
duties.
However, it may also be awarded to certain other individuals whose
combat duties require regular and frequent flying in other than
a passenger status or individuals who perform a particularly noteworthy
act while performing the function of a crew member but who are
not on flying status.
These individuals must make a discernible contribution to the
operational land combat mission or to the mission of the aircraft
in flight.
Awards will not be made to individuals who use air transportation
solely for the purpose of moving from point to point in a combat
zone.
Aerial
Achievement Medal
AWARDED
for sustained meritorious achievement while participating in aerial
flight. Considered on par with the Air Medal, but more likely
to be awarded during peace time.
Both
medals are US Air Force awards.
