Comments for Technical Sergeant Dean, someone you should know.

Technical Sergeant Dean, someone you should know.

2008-02-26T12:30:56Z

Just another day at the office, honey, honest!

When an American convoy in southern Afghanistan suddenly came under small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire, Sergeant Dean immediately made contact with a flight of two US Air Force, F-15 Strike Eagle aircraft overhead. After the planes made their first strafing run, Sergeant Dean announced calmly over the radio that he’d been shot by insurgents in the stomach below his body armor. Despite his injury, Sergeant Dean continued to direct the aircraft, calling for battle damage assessments and additional strikes against the attacking insurgents. His parting words over the radio as the MEDEVAC helicopter came in were “make sure my guys get out of here.”

This is an odd war (well, since WWII), where the Air Force enlisted airmen have been suffering as many, and probably more, casualties than the officers who fly the aircraft.

And TSGT Dean is an outstanding exemplar of his service.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2008-02-26

2008-02-26T20:28:00Z

I just went back through the DoD casualty notifications for Oct 2007 (when the event occured) to present and his name isn't in them. But that's as far as it goes. I'll ask CJTF-82 if they know.

Comment from JimC on 2008-02-26

2008-02-26T19:49:03Z

Anybody know the current status of this fine young man? Far too many gut shots below the belly plate result in death.

Comment from AFSister on 2008-02-26

2008-02-26T18:37:25Z

I've also noticed a lot more AF deaths/injuries on the ground. You expect AF casualties in the air, but not as much on the ground.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2008-02-26

2008-02-26T15:57:35Z

I don't believe I ever said that, Dusty. I'm just observing that unlike the wars of our era, where the Sergeants of the AF were *generally* waving at the officers as they went off to do the killing and dying, "This Kind of War" where there is no fight in the skies and the AAA threat is near-zero, it's the Sergeants who are taking the casualties. There's nothing about cowardice in here, flyboy. It's just about how in this war, who's taking the risks (other than those inherent in military flying) vice Desert Storm, the Balkans, and Vietnam. Nothing more, nothing less. Sorry if I stepped on a nerve I didn't know was out there.

Comment from Instapilot on 2008-02-26

2008-02-26T15:38:15Z

Well, we flying officers are just overpaid cowards anyway, John. Right?