Photo By Staff Sgt. James Fritz | Tech. Sgt. Seth Phares, 911th Security Forces Squadron Raven, poses for a portrait at...... read more read more
"People were panicking and trying to run for their lives out of that country," said Tech. Sgt. Seth Phares, 911th Security Forces Squadron Raven. "Kids, doctors, teachers, and Afghan military members were fleeing because the country was collapsing."
During Operation Allies Refuge (OAR), the massive U.S. military effort to evacuate more than 124,000 people out of Kabul, Afghanistan during the last days of the United States’ longest war there. More than 150 Phoenix Ravens and Fly Away Security (FAS) members were rapidly positioned to secure every Mobility Air Force aircraft supporting OAR after more than 800 Afghan civilians swarmed an AMC C-17 aircraft in Kabul to seek safety and flee the Taliban. More than 62 Phoenix Ravens and FAS members have been submitted to receive medals for their steadfast contributions during OAR. Because of his heroism and extraordinary achievement during this historic aerial operation, Phares was awarded the Air Medal with a "C" device on August 28, 2021.
Phares, who was attached to the 421st Combat Training Squadron as a Phoenix Raven instructor at the time, provided force protection for a C-17 Globemaster III transporting evacuees out of the country.
"I remember a guy pulling stuff out of his pockets, and he dropped an Afghani $10 bill. It fell to the ground, so I grabbed it to give it back. He looked at me and said, ‘It doesn't matter anymore. That money is worthless now.’ That hit me hard.” Phares shared other poignant memories, including an encounter with an Afghan teenager holding a U.S. passport.
"He came up to me while we were in the air and wanted to know when we were going back to America. He said he goes to school full-time in America and was on summer vacation visiting his parents in Afghanistan when this whole thing kicked off,” said Phares. “He got trapped there and couldn't come back to the U.S."
As a Phoenix Raven, Phares is trained in advanced combat and anti-terrorism tactics, responsible for safeguarding aircraft in high-risk areas. Earning the Air Medal is relatively uncommon for Security Forces Airmen, who typically serve in ground-based roles like base defense and law enforcement. However, Ravens have unique opportunities to participate in aerial missions, making them eligible for the award.
"In the moment, you don't really think about it. It was after when people started saying, 'Do you know what you were just a part of?' that it started to sink in," said Phares. "I'm extremely proud to have been a part of something so historic. It's something I'll always remember and share with my family."
| Date Taken: | 08.03.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 09.04.2024 11:11 |
| Story ID: | 479862 |
| Location: | PITTSBURGH AIRPORT AIR RESERVE STATION, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Hometown: | PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 2,296 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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