AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  GWOT
MODEL:  AC-130

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Alexander W. Hill for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an Aircraft Commander, 4th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron, Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component-Afghanistan, near Kunduz Province, Afghanistan from 2 November 2016 to 3 November 2016. During this period, Major Hill's exemplary leadership and decisive actions while leading nearly two hours of continuous close air support fires prevented the enemy from overrunning a 50 man American and Afghan Special Forces team. With friendly forces pinned down under intense enemy fire and grenade attacks in a narrow alley, surrounded by insurgents and taking heavy causalities, Major Hill led his crew to repel the enemy by firing inside danger closed distances through 21 engagements, allowing the remaining team to drag their wounded comrades out of the kill zone. As insurgents attempted to close in and finish off the friendlies, he skillfully maneuvered the aircraft to allow his Sensor Operators to adjust impacts to within 10 meters of friendlies with the 40 millimeter cannon and level enemy structures within 25 meters of friendlies with the 105 millimeter howitzer. As the battle persisted, insurgents continued to aggressively maneuver against and engage the wounded ground force. He relentlessly positioned his aircraft to employ all three weapons, delivering nearly every round within extreme danger close distances to hold off the enemy onslaught. He coordinated with his aerial gun crew to continue fires through five 40 millimeter weapons malfunctions and safely exceed cooling limitations on the 105 millimeter gun. Additionally, he led an AC-130 formation attack combined with AH-64 Apache helicopter integration by marking targets with 40 millimeter rounds and adjusting fires to maximize enemy damage. He also conducted an unprecedented 105 millimeter proximity-fused munition engagement within 12 meters of friendlies that killed an enemy maneuver element with one shot. Furthermore, he led the coordination for expedited ground re-arm and re-fuel, then courageously returned to support the injured team, remaining overhead beyond sunrise until the surviving force and their casualties egressed the battlefield. In total, he killed 27 insurgents, leveled 10 enemy structures, destroyed three technical vehicles and ultimately saved the ground force. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Hill reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.