AWARDED DFC: 2
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  OEF, GWOT
MODEL:  A-10

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Colonel Edward A. Kostelnik, Jr., for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an A-10 Pilot, 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, 332d Air Expeditionary Group, Ahmed AL Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, from 4 March 2002. During this period, flying as Misty 12 and Cherry 08, Colonel Kostelnik successfully flew in the first and second A-10 mission into Afghanistan in support of operation Anaconda. Launching from Operation Southern Watch main operating base, Colonel Kostelnik flew an 11-hour mission into hostile territory recovering at an austere classified location. On his first sortie, he assisted Misty 11 in sorting out confusing communications and deconflicting multiple aircraft in the target area. Expertly following Misty 11's two marking rockets, he skillfully maneuvered his A-10 into position to deliver two 500-pound bombs with deadly accuracy. Recognizing a possible blue-on blue fratricide incident, Colonel Kostelnik assisted Misty 11 in directing a B-52 to change his attack direction to protect friendly positions 1 kilometer north of intended target. During his second mission, he patiently used multiple target plots, ground controller talk-ons and marking rockets to assist Cherry 07 in pinpointing an enemy force. With approaching nightfall, he expertly struck the target with two 500-pound bombs and followed up with more than 200 300 millimeter high explosive incendiary rounds killing a confirmed Warrant Officer One to 300 enemy personal. The flight's outstanding tactical skill and mature airmanship inflicted heavy enemy losses and completely devastated an enemy counter attack against friendly forces. Colonel Kostelnik saved countless Coalition lives and advanced the United States goals in the war on global terrorism. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Kostelnik reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

2.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Colonel Edward A. Kostelnik, Jr., for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an A-10 Flight Lead, 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, 332d Air Expeditionary Group, Ahmed AL Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, on 7 March 2002. On that date, flying as Sandy 01, his professional skill and airmanship enabled him to successfully destroy an enemy infantry force in mountainous terrain in support of Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan. Launching from an austere, classified forward operating base, Colonel Kostelnik battled poor night visibility, aircraft icing, and layered clouds during the air-refueling and in the target area. During the mission, he observed and reported anti-aircraft artillery fire in the target area and initiated infrared pinpoint enemy infantry positions on a mountain peak that were firing on nearby friendly ground forces. Painstakingly account for all friendly positions, he determined the restricted attack direction requested by the ground forward air controller might endanger friendly positions. Colonel Kostelnik adeptly adjusted the attack direction and skillfully employed four rockets to mark the target while his wingman remained in a high cover position. He then maneuvered his wingman into position to deliver three 500-pount bombs with devastating accuracy on the enemy position located a dangerously close 600 meters to the nearest friendly position. The strike silenced enemy fires on Coalition forces, a fact confirmed by the ground Forward Air Controller that proved the mission's success. By destroying the al Qaeda fire position, Colonel Kostelnik saved Coalition lives and advanced the United States goals in the war on global terrorism. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Kostelnik reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.