AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  GWOT
MODEL:  1111-600

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Mary O. Jennings for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a 1111-600 Pave Hawk Co-pilot near Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, on 29 July 2009. On that date, Captain Jennings flew in a two-ship formation, Pedro 15 and Pedro 16, tasked with the urgent medevac of three United States soldiers injured when their convoy was attacked. While Pedro 16 provided cover fire and Shamus 34 and 36 expended Hellfire missiles and .50 caliber rounds, her crew executed a tactical approach to a brown out landing alongside the vehicles. Immediately, the aircraft received a round through Captain Jennings' windshield, injuring her in the arm and leg. After the aircraft safely lifted, she refused to return to base while part of her team was on the ground. Despite the shattered windshield and wounds to her arm and leg, Captain Jennings and her crew courageously risked their lives to return and rescue the Pararescuemen and patients from the ambush. Once on the ground, Pedro 15 started taking accurate belt-fed heavy machine gun fire, damaging multiple systems. Resisting the urge to escape, she held the Pilot from taking off until the patients were loaded. On takeoff, Captain Jennings saw the number one engine was about to flameout due to fuel loss. She saved the lives of all on board by immediately selecting the number two fuel tank. The disabled aircraft had to land less than two miles away, and she was on the ground taking fire for 18 minutes before being extracted on the skids of an OH-58. On takeoff, Captain Jennings observed muzzle flashes from small arms fire which was aimed at the crew running toward Pedro 16 and provided cover fire for them with her own weapon. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Jennings reflect great credit upon herself and the United States Air Force.