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

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Technical Sergeant Thomas B. Mazzone for heroism while participating in aerial flight. As MC-130E Combat Talon Loadmaster, Joint Special Operations Air Detachment South, Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component, Special Operations Command Central, near As Samawah, Iraq on 19 March 2003. On that date, Sergeant Mazzone was critical to the success of a three-ship MC-130E Combat Talon formation. Over the course of 7.7 hours of low-level combat flying, his crew repeatedly refueled a seven-ship formation and then a six-ship formation of MH-53M Pave Low helicopters for a total of three combat sorties in support of two clandestine infiltrations of United States Army Special Operations Forces and other government agency forces into multiple objectives in Iraq. These were the first Air Force Special Operations Command aircraft to penetrate Iraq in support of the first United States ground forces to set foot in Iraq prior to the commencement of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Enemy forces twice engaged Sergeant Mazzone's aircraft. Sergeant Mazzone saved his aircraft and crew by detecting an enemy surface-to-air missile launch and directing defensive maneuvers repeatedly throughout the engagement. With severe time constraints, his crew was able to complete the rendezvous with six helicopters, four of which had fuel low lights illuminated and required immediate refueling in order to recover to friendly territory. When the helicopters had difficulty refueling due to the weather, his crew remained with them to ensure they received sufficient fuel to recover to friendly territory while the rest of the formation recovered to base. This mission was conducted deep inside Iraq, beyond a normal tactical crew duty day, in atrocious weather, with significantly degraded communications and under fire by enemy forces. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Mazzone reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.