Photo By Senior Airman Leighton Lucero | Gen. Ken Wilsbach, commander of Air Combat Command, presents the Distinguished Flying...... read more read more
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SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. —
Airmen from the 4th Fighter Wing were awarded high-level decorations by Gen. Ken Wilsbach, commander of Air Combat Command, during a ceremony at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, March 28, 2025.
The Airmen were recognized for their rapid response and performance in the largest air-to-air engagement in over 50 years.
“We’re here today to recognize some American heroes and highlight their accomplishments,” Wilsbach said. “These Airmen were agile, mobile and hostile, generating overwhelming combat power in a short period of time to defeat a threat.”
In April 2024, Airmen from the 335th Fighter Squadron and 335th Fighter Generation Squadron deployed in support of U.S. Central Command.
Less than 24 hours after their arrival, multiple one-way attack drones and ballistic missiles were launched at Israel from Iran and Houthi-controlled regions of Yemen. The 335th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and 335th Expeditionary Fighter Generation Squadron, along with coalition forces, worked rapidly to defend Israel and counter the aerial attack.
As drones and missiles soared through skies, airmen worked to reconfigure F-15E Strike Eagles for combat.
“Once the aircraft arrived, we had to completely reconfigure them from no munitions to battle-ready,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Madison Gilbert, 335th EFGS commander.
Within hours, the 335th EFGS reconfigured six F-15Es. These expeditionary aircrews had been in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility for only a day before their response to the attack.
“It was a whole enterprise effort that day, getting us ready to fight and win was not as simple as taking the travel pods off and getting back in the air.” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Kevin Murphy, 335th EFS commander. “Our maintainer teammates need to take large 10-foot sections of the plane off and get them in the precise configuration to add more munitions. Time was not on our side, and they made it happen. I don’t know any other group of people who could have made it all work in time.”
With the pilots and weapons system officers now in flight, it was time to engage. At the front of his formation, U.S. Air Force Capt. Greg Liquori, 335th EFS pilot, shot the first missile at a locked-on target.
“Let it ride,” said Liquori.
“Yep, there goes the missile,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Kevin Murphy, 335th EFS commander. “All right, here we go, boys.”
According to Murphy, approximately 45 minutes into the engagement, their formation of F-15Es had fired all their munitions. They landed, were quickly re-armed by 335th EFGS weapons personnel and returned to the fight.
“Everyone did exactly what they were trained to do.” expressed Murphy. “This was a shining example of why we exercise.”
From the evening of April 12 into the morning of April 13, 2024, the Airmen successfully engaged and destroyed more than 80 one-way attack drones and at least six ballistic missiles. In total, Iran launched more than 300 UAVs, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles. Coalition forces and Israel destroyed nearly 99% of all inbound weapons.
“Today’s ceremony was a great way to recognize the amazing Airmen of the 4th Fighter Wing," said Col. Morgan Lohse, 4th Fighter Wing Commander. "Their accomplishments emphasize the importance of air superiority and were a big step towards restoring U.S. deterrence of Iran. It was an honor to recognize their historic accomplishments and the success of the entire team.”
Almost a year later, they received the honors they earned for their heroism, surrounded by Air Force leadership, 4th FW peers and their families.
The following individuals received the Distinguished Flying Cross with, the fourth-highest military award for heroism and the highest award for extraordinary aerial achievement:
Lt. Col. Kevin Murphy, 335th Fighter Squadron
Lt. Col. Brian Leitzke, 333rd Fighter Squadron
Maj. Steven Cripe II, 335th Fighter Squadron
Maj. Sebastian Kaiser, 335th Fighter Squadron
Maj. Andrew Munoz, 335th Fighter Squadron
Capt. Dimosthenis Doulamis, 335th Fighter Squadron
Capt. Gregory Liquori, 335th Fighter Squadron
Capt. George Welton, 335th Fighter Squadron
The following individual received a Bronze Star Medal:
Master Sgt. Luke Howell, 4th Operations Support Squadron
The following individuals received a Commendation Medal:
1st. Lt. Michael Duhaime, 4th Operations Support Squadron
Master Sgt. Christopher Oles, 335th Fighter Generation Squadron
Master Sgt. Joey Roberts, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron
Technical Sgt. Joshua Spillman, 4th Operations Support Squadron
Technical Sgt. Mitchell Klocke, 335th Fighter Generation Squadron
Technical Sgt. Drew Metzger, 335th Fighter Generation Squadron
Technical Sgt. Nathaniel Manley, 335th Fighter Generation Squadron
Technical Sgt. Dylan Zamminer, 335th Fighter Generation Squadron
Technical Sgt. Jashaunn Jasper, 335th Fighter Generation Squadron
Staff Sgt. Alexander Norwood, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron
Senior Airman Trevor Varney, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron
Senior Airman Lance Manzon, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron
The following individuals received an Air and Space Achievement Medal:
Staff Sgt. Jaquante Grimes, 335th Fighter Generation Squadron
Staff Sgt. Michael Zeno, 335th Fighter Generation Squadron
Senior Airman Kobe Montgomery, 335th Fighter Generation Squadron
Senior Airman Tristan Long, 335th Fighter Generation Squadron
Senior Airman Tyanna Edgerson, 335th Fighter Generation Squadron
Senior Airman Christopher Carey, 335th Fighter Generation Squadron
Senior Airman Justin Roblee, 335th Fighter Generation Squadron
Senior Airman Alexander Ripolio , 335th Fighter Generation Squadron
Senior Airman Senghtoi Waje, 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron
Airman 1st Class Frankie Perez, 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron
| Date Taken: | 03.28.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 03.28.2025 23:47 |
| Story ID: | 494081 |
| Location: | SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,371 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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