Major awarded DFC

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A weapons flight commander with the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for action May 2, 2011 when deployed to Nuristan Province, Afghanistan. Maj. John Caldwell, at the time a captain piloting an F-16, responded to an ambush on a special operations team that was taking casualties. His award citation said the pilot employed an immediate, nonstandard, danger close strafe run into the rugged, midnight black valley as the enemy continued to fire with rounds impacting inches from the trapped allies. Caldwell then re-attacked with an expertly placed, danger close Joint Direct Attack Munition, completely neutralizing the ambush. The DFC narration said the presence of Caldwell prevented a catastrophic loss of American lives and directly turned the tide of this engagement. (Source: Eglin Public Affairs, 06/25/12)