AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  GWOT
MODEL:  C-17

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (with "C" DEVICE) to Lieutenant Colonel Raul R. Montiague for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while engaged in military operations involving conflict against an opposing foreign force as Critical Care Air Transport Team Physician, 379th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 379th Expeditionary Operations Group, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar on 26 August 2021. On that date, Colonel Montiague was among the first members of a Critical Care Air Transport augmented Aeromedical Evacuation team to mobilize for a no-notice urgent combat mission. He responded within hours to a massive casualty event, caused by a suicide bomber, that killed thirteen service members at the Abbey Gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport. Additionally, Colonel Montiague's exceptional leadership, dedication, and medical expertise were pivotal to the medical evacuation of twenty-two multinational and joint service casualties, including five ventilated patients and multiple Afghan evacuees. Moreover, Colonel Montiague performed patient triage and intake while operating under continued small arms fire as well as significant and imminent threat of another attack. While in flight, Colonel Montiague contributed to the life saving massive blood resuscitation of a critically wounded post-operative patient, ensuring the safe transfer to definitive surgery after landing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Furthermore, Colonel Montiague led his team to ultimately provide sustained in flight medical care for over eight hours, culminating in all twenty-two lives saved during the single largest aeromedical evacuation airlift in Kabul Coalition Hospital's history. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Montiague reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.