All-American Heroes: Selfless Service Through Devastation

On Jan. 28, 2024, life at Tower 22-a Jordanian outpost near the Syrian and Iraqi borders-appeared routine. Members of the brigade were stationed there as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led coalition established to dismantle ISIS.

What sounded like a distant lawn mower was a drone that struck the base, killing three U.S. soldiers and wounding more than 40.

Camp personnel heard "BUNKERS, BUNKERS, BUNKERS" over the loudspeakers and scrambled for cover. The dreaded call of "FRACTURE" then alerted DUSTOFF personnel that they would soon be called to evacuate their wounded comrades. DUSTOFF personnel had rehearsed a chaotic scenario a week earlier-training that proved vital.

Within 200 meters of the blast, crews responded, stabilized patients, and prepared for evacuation. Less than two hours later, a second drone was detected and destroyed. The first critical patients-a soldier with a broken back, a partial amputee, and a soldier with severe burns-were flown to Al Asad Air Base by an HH-60M lead aircraft and a UH-60 chase aircraft.

On a day when DUSTOFF 23 and DUSTOFF 25 witnessed the death of fellow soldiers, they flew over five hours through the Iraqi desert, evacuating the wounded without hesitation.

The People Behind the Uniform

During the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Black Hawk Breakfast in October 2025, Sikorsky honored 10 service members of the 82^nd Combat Aviation Brigade, known as the All American DUSTOFF Company, for their heroic actions in 2024.

They are all members of the DUSTOFF community-U.S. Army pilots, crewmembers and medics who fly into combat zones to provide lifesaving medical evacuation for wounded warriors. DUSTOFF stands for Dedicating Unhesitating Service to Our Fighting Forces, a creed that embodies sacrifice and promises rapid response, no matter the situation.

Unfortunately, the government shutdown prevented some of the soldiers involved in the rescue mission from attending the October ceremony. To ensure every crewmember was honored, Sikorsky held a private ceremony at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in December for those who were unable to attend. No matter the circumstances, each crewmember was recognized and received Sikorsky's deepest appreciation for the bravery and sacrifice it took to fly and operate the Black Hawk on that day back in 2024.

"Consider the immense moral courage and sheer intestinal fortitude it took to fly the mission that followed," said Col. Robert Beale, commander the of 82^nd CAB, during the ceremony. "These aircrew members launched into the Iraq desert and executed the landing and intricate mission for more than five hours after being exposed to the extreme danger of a one-way UAS attack that could have easily shaken anyone's resolve."

Take a look at their stories that illustrate skill, dedication, and selfless service.

• Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jonathan Martin: Served as the air mission commander and pilot-in-command of the lead HH-60M. His childhood dream came to fruition when he enlisted in 2009. He served as an infantryman and drill sergeant before attending flight school, where he carried on his grandfather's legacy who was a P-38 pilot in World War II. He graduated in 2019 as a UH-60 pilot and has accumulated roughly 760 flight hours.
• Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jeremy Clever: Piloted the lead aircraft in the rescue operation. He joined the Army in 2015 and served as a medic with the 1-504^th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Afghanistan, before attending flight school. After initially flying the UH-72, he returned to Fort Bragg where he began flying Black Hawk helicopters.
• Sgt. 1^st Class Gabriel Herrera: Provided critical care to the severely injured back patient and partial amputee as the medic on the lead HH-60. He enlisted in 2006 to continue his family legacy. He has logged close to 1,450 flight medic hours and deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Poland.
• Sgt. Ademir Pavao: Served as the lead aircraft crew chief who scanned diligently for any reported enemy activity during the operation. He enlisted in 2018 and began his career as a UH-60 repairer.
• Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua Calla: Served as the pilot-in-command for the chase aircraft. He enlisted in the Army in 2009 after being inspired by the faithful service of his grandfather.
• Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jeff Ashford: Enlisted in 2014 to follow in the footsteps of his father. He attended flight school in 2020 and has accumulated 730 flight hours since graduating as a Black Hawk pilot in 2021. He's been married for 11 years and is the proud father of four children.
• Staff Sgt. Stephen Black: Served as the flight medic for the chase Black Hawk helicopter. He enlisted in the Army in 2017, served as a ground medic for the 326^th Engineers at Fort Campbell in Kentucky and then re-enlisted to become a flight medic. He's been with the 82^nd CAB since 2022.
• Spc. Adam Del Toro: Served as the chase aircraft crew chief who scanned diligently for any reported enemy activity during the operation. He enlisted in 2021 with a strong desire to serve our country. After a one-year tour at Camp Humphreys in the Republic of Korea, he was assigned to the 82^nd CAB and has amassed 770 flight hours.
• Sgt. Desiree Orange: Her refueling team performed flawlessly during the operation, ensuring both aircraft were refueled immediately after the drone attack. She's now in drill sergeant school to continue her career of service.
• Sgt. Malik Whittington: Served as the operations non-commissioned officer (NCO), tracking flight info and providing real-time updates to the crews. He continues his family's tradition of service. His oversight of mission timing and coordination proved critical to the operation's success.

Each honoree exemplifies a different facet of the DUSTOFF mission-leadership, expertise, and precision. Together they turned a day of devastation into a testament to unwavering dedication and selflessness.

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