Airman awarded Distinguished Flying Cross

CANNON AIR FORCE BASE — Maj. William Mendel was awarded a highly prestigious medal for "extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight" on Monday.

"It's a testament to the aircraft and the people that fly it," said Mendel about the experience that gained him the honor.

According to the special order by the U.S. Air Force, then Captain Mendel, aircraft commander of the 8th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron, the "Green Hornets," was piloting a CV-22 in order to evacuate American citizens in Central Djibouti, Africa, when the aircraft "came under heavy, effective gunfire."

Mendel was able to navigate away from the gunfire and assess damages caused to the aircraft, which included "ruptured fuel tanks, complete loss of the largest hydraulic system and an inoperable emergency lubrication system," according to the order.

The Distinguished Flying Cross has only been awarded to 78 individuals before Mendel, despite being the nation's oldest award in aviation.

It is an honor, said Mendel, to be "in good company, in prestigious company," which includes President George H.W. Bush, Buzz Aldrin and Amelia Earhart.

"Today is an exceptional day," said Brig. Gen. William G. Holt, who presented Mendel with the medal at Monday's ceremony.

Holt congratulated Mendel on his bravery and noted the pride Mendel's family must feel for his courage, including Mendel's brother, also an airman, who was able to go on leave to attend the ceremony.

"Your dad is a hero," Holt told Mendel's children who were in attendance.

"When only the best will do," the motto for the Green Hornets exemplified Mendel and his team's bravery in the face of danger.

Holt continued, saying the event was a "humanitarian mission" and a "defining moment" for Mendel.

"The aircraft was barely fly-able," said Holt, "but they made it back to save severely wounded soldiers."

What you did was "profoundly brave, (and) it's with a great deal of honor and humility that I stand here" to award this medal to you, said Holt.

"It's a very high honor," said Mendel, "to receive this award in front of my brethren" and the men who were there that day. Mendel said the Air Force becomes like a family.

"(I) see them almost more than (my) own family," he said.

"I've got some great kids, and a great wife, Kathryn," said Mendel, adding that he was proud to have his family in attendance for the honor.

"It was the first time we've been together in a very long time," he said.

"(I'm) very proud," said Mendel's mother, Lynda Mendel, of Lexington, Kentucky, who traveled down for the occasion.

"It's one of the scariest phone calls someone can get. Someone calls and says 'he's safe' and you think, 'why would he not be safe?' God was with him," said Lynda Mendel.

The medal Mendel received depicts a four-bladed propeller superimposed onto a cross to represent sacrifice in flight, because Mendel placed his fear aside and was able to come out of the experience alive and well.

Through his expertise and level headedness, he was able to gather his pararescue team for "support for critically wounded personnel on the formation's lead aircraft," according to the order.

This allowed the team to start a mobile blood bank for the wounded to receive transfusions.

In total, Mendel's actions enabled him to protect nine passengers and the four critically wounded airmen on board.