AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  GWOT
MODEL:  F-16

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Salvador A. Cruz for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-16 pilot near Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, on 26 April 2017. On that date Captain Cruz's exemplary skill and outstanding airmanship, displayed under extremely challenging conditions, culminated in two danger close weapons employments, enabling the elimination of a senior Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-K leader and saving 88 United States and Coalition troops. After a nighttime insertion into a known hostile area, United States and coalition troops began taking effective fire from 360 degrees. Captain Cruz rapidly identified and fixed both friendly and hostile locations before coordinating for an attack significantly inside danger close ranges. As the only remaining close air support asset on station, Captain Cruz and his flight dropped four bombs on enemy locations in two separate attacks, neutralizing the enemy and allowing friendly forces the time and space to regroup. After refueling, Captain Cruz fixed new enemy locations and marked the target for a returning AC-130, which enabled the AC-130 to suppress and neutralize this additional firing position. After the attacks, Captain Cruz remained overhead, coordinating additional attacks from AC-130 and AH-64 assets for continued suppression of enemy fighters, thereby enabling both actions on the objective and friendly exfiltration and casualty evacuation. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Cruz reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.