ANSBACH, GERMANY - Chief Warrant Officer 3 Tom Shellart, a helicopter pilot with the Delta Company of the 52nd Aviation Regiment assigned to the 1-214th Aviation Regiment, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade poses with his wife Kelly, daughter Maddy, and Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, the U.S. Army Europe commander, December 17, 2014 after receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight.
Shellart was awarded the cross for actions in May, 2010 while he was a medical evacuation pilot of a Blackhawk (UH-60A) when he responded to a call from a team of U.S Army Special Forces Soldiers and Afghan National Army soldiers who were pinned down by more than 50 insurgents. On two occasions, Shellhart and his crew positioned their aircraft to draw fire from the insurgents to allow the ground force to maneuver and improve their security. They spent three minutes at landing zone that was currently under fire from insurgents in order to evacuate two wounded Soldiers. The Distinguished Flying Cross is presented for Heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight.
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