United States forces and Afghan forces were ambushed on the 8th of April and were under “intense machine gun and sniper fire.” This resulted in a firefight in which Germanovich, a combat controller with the 26th Special Tactics Squadron, immediately sprinted towards his isolated fellow troopers. This put him in direct danger as he sprinted through 70 meters of enemy fire on open terrain. After a member of his team, Army Staff Sgt. Mark De Alencar, was shot, Germanovich covered his men with his own body as protection from enemy fire. Once the soldiers started to run out of ammo, he then coordinated an evacuation route and carried De Alencar 700 meters uphill to the landing zone. Sergeant Germanovich action’s that day saved 150 friendly forces and “a reminder that our character is not revealed when times are easy, but when times are tough.” Col. Matthew Allen, commander of the 24th Special Operations Wing said to Germanovich during the ceremony. Alaxey Germanovich is the 12th airman receive the Air Force Cross since 9/11 and it is the second highest award given next to the Medal of Honor.
‘Raw bravery’: Barrett awards special tactics airman the Air Force Cross for valor in firefight | Air Force Times
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