Air Force Featured Stories

AF introduces Volume 9 of Portraits in Courage

  • Published
  • By Air Force News Service


WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force released its ninth volume of Portraits in Courage, highlighting five teams and seven individual Airmen for their honor, valor, devotion and selfless sacrifice in the face of extreme danger to themselves and others.

“Each story graphically depicts an Airman’s will to do the right thing, when it mattered most, and to selflessly accept risk for the life of another,” wrote Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody in the volume's preface. “Our Airmen face these situations each and every day around the globe. Each of them has their own story. In fact, it would take many volumes to highlight them all.”

The 24 recipients represent multiple major commands and career fields including security forces, combat control, pararescue, explosive ordnance disposal and others. To date, the Air Force has recognized 199 Airmen through this project.

“We believe in them – not just for who they are, but for what they represent,” Welsh said. “They believe in integrity, in service, in excellence and are ready and willing to go in harm’s way. They continue to strengthen the spirit of our nation and have earned our highest degree of trust.”

All of this year's Portraits in Courage stories and profiles from previous volumes are featured on the Air Force Portraits in Courage website.

To read more about the team or individual Airman stories click on their name below. This volume features:
- Team 1: Senior Airman TJ Brantley, Staff Sgt. Kyle Bushey and Tech. Sgt. Kristopher Parker
- Team 2: Tech. Sgts. Mark Cornett, Benjamin Jacobs, James Juniper, Capt. Jeremy Powell and Staff Sgt. Christopher Rector
- Team 3: Staff Sgt. Mechele Fonck, Master Sgt. Dominick Griego and Tech. Sgt. Austin Hardin
- Team 4: Tech. Sgt. John Hurley, Staff Sgt. Josh Jerden and Master Sgt. Michael Sears
- Team 5: Tech. Sgts. Rafael Melendez, Randy Sampson and Matthew Treadwell
- Tech. Sgt. Thomas Bauhs
- Tech. Sgt. Patrick McGillivray
- Tech. Sgt. Matthew McKenna
- Master Sgt. Ivan Ruiz
- Tech. Sgt. David Shea
- Master Sgt. Daniel Wassom
- Staff Sgt. Daniel Wilson