Major's medal, artifacts on display at Air Force museum

  • Published
  • By Sean Bowlin
  • 12th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  One of the first Airmen to earn an Air Force Combat Action Medal donated his award, alongside others, to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Maj. Steve Raspet, the 12th Operations Group T-6A Texan II standards and evaluation branch chief and an instructor pilot at Randolph AFB, was recognized Jan. 14 during the opening of an exhibition on the Air Force's participation in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

"Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom are a tremendous part of our country's history," said Col. Jeffrey Brown, the 12th Operations Group deputy commander. "The Air Force has obviously played a large role in the success of these operations. It is certainly fitting that they should develop a museum display to honor the professionalism, sacrifice and bravery of men and women like Major Raspet."

Major Raspet received the medal in January 2007 from former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley. Shortly after, he thought about donating the medal and other items from his deployment.

"I didn't want them to sit on a mantle or lay in a closet somewhere, so I contacted the museum and said I'd like to donate the items," the major said. "It was good timing because they were getting together the exhibit on the Air Force's participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom."

He also donated shells expended from his main gun on the A-10 Thunderbolt II during the medal-winning sortie.

On that Jan. 8, 2006, sortie, Major Raspet was the flight lead of two A-10s from the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. 

He was called to provide air cover and close-air support during a joint Afghan army and U.S. Army operation when friendlies were in heavy contact with the enemy.

During his 13-minute flight, friendlies were taking increasing enemy fire. Major Raspet and his wingman destroyed eight stationary vehicles exposed in the middle of a large, dried-up riverbed as friendlies started receiving more enemy fire from a building located west of the friendly convoy's last vehicle.

When friendly forces requested cover from the major and his wingman, a .50-caliber machine gunner marked the enemy location. Then, Major Raspet and his wingman suppressed the enemy.

The friendly convoy, which was impacted by improvised explosive devices earlier the same day, moved out toward its forward operating base as Major Raspet and his wingman made show-of-force passes near the convoy to deter further enemy attacks.

After the major received the medal for his actions that day, he contacted Tech. Sgt. Shannon Craig, one of the controllers on the ground with the convoy. He found out the sergeant was donating some of his equipment items used that day to the exhibit, so the major followed suit.

The major, who described himself as a military history buff, said he was basically left speechless when he found out his items would be displayed in the exhibit alongside Sergeant Craig's.

"I just didn't know what to say," he said.

"Steve is an exceptional officer and warrior and the perfect choice to represent his fellow Airmen in documenting the Air Force piece of these important historical events," Colonel Brown said.

Major Raspet said his mission was a typical and ordinary one for attack pilots based in Afghanistan at that time; a mission he was glad to be part of.

"There's no better mission than supporting the men on the ground," he said. "And the amount of responsibility that young lieutenants and captains flying those sorties have is tremendous."

Major Raspet said he's thankful to the pararescuemen, combat controllers and Soldiers and Airmen in convoys whose items will also be included in the display -- and looks forward to seeing it.

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