Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark. A Welsh III presents the Lance P. Sijan Leadership award to Maj. Patrick Kolesiak, a 2015 recipient, during a ceremony in the Pentagon, Washington. D.C., April 7, 2016. Kolesiak was the operations flight commander, 52nd civil engineer squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. He led the wing’s largest flight of 438 engineers supporting the 1,796 acre base, three weapons storage areas, and 15 geographically separated units across four nations.The Sijan award, first presented in 1981, was named in honor of the first Air Force Academy graduate to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. Each year it is given to a senior and junior officer, and a senior and junior enlisted member who demonstrated outstanding leadership abilities though out the year. Then Lt. Sijan was shot down over Vietnam on Nov. 9, 1967. Despite severe injuries he evaded capture for 45 days. He was promoted to Capt. while in captivity. He later died while being held at the infamous Hanoi Hilton, and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism. The 2014 winners are: Lt. Col. Stephen Matthews, Capt. John Sullivan, Master Sgt. Janell McGivern and Senior Airman Tristen Windel. The winners for 2015 are: Maj. Patrick Kolesiak, Capt. David Plachno, Senior Master Sgt. Justin Deisch and Tech. Sgt. Kevin Henderson. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jim Varhegyi)
Date Taken: | 04.07.2016 |
Date Posted: | 04.11.2016 09:28 |
Photo ID: | 2511118 |
VIRIN: | 160407-F-FC975-294 |
Resolution: | 2100x1500 |
Size: | 1.93 MB |
Location: | PENTAGON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
Web Views: | 161 |
Downloads: | 3 |
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