Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex in Montgomery County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Award of Air Force Cross to Ivan M. Ruiz
The Air Force Cross
to
Ivan M. Ruiz
Master Sergeant Ivan M. Ruiz distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in military operations against an armed enemy of the United States. On 10 December 2013 during a raid in denied terrain in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan while attached to Army Special Forces and Afghan Commandos team, Sergeant Ruiz engaged and neutralized 4 insurgents at point blank range, becoming isolated from the 14 man element, Sergeant Ruiz and 2 teammates encountered vicious insurgent crossfire, sweeping the courtyard with small arms fire and throwing hand grenades from barricaded strongpoints, Sergeant Ruiz eliminated one enemy fighter with well-aimed carbine fire, while enemy fire wounded his two comrades, rendering them immobile and exposed to the enemy. Alone in the courtyard, Sergeant Ruiz completely disregarded his personal safety and refused to withdraw to cover. Single-handedly suppressing enemy fire until reinforcements arrived, Sergeant Ruiz pressed ahead under intense fire to reach his wounded comrades. Joined by teammates, Sergeant Ruiz advanced through a hail of machine gun fire and grenades to drag a wounded teammate back to a position of relative cover and concealment. Still dangerously exposed to gunfire raking the compound, Sergeant Ruiz administered life-saving trauma care to his teammates while wearing night vision goggles. Sergeant Ruiz’s heroic actions saved the lives of two teammates and contributed to 11 insurgents killed. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Sergeant Ruiz reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Erected by Maxwell-Gunter AFSNCOA Class 07-C.
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, Afghanistan. In addition, it is included in the Distinguished Service Cross/Navy Cross/Air Force Cross Recipients series list.
Location. 32° 24.267′ N, 86° 14.981′ W. Marker is in Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex, Alabama, in Montgomery County. Memorial can be reached from the intersection of McDonald Street and Avenue D. Located at the USAF Senior NCO Academy at the Gunter Annex and requires base access. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 550 McDonald St, Montgomery AL 36114, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Award of Air Force Cross to Christopher G. Baradat (here, next to this marker); Award of Air Force Cross to Richard B. Hunter (here, next to this marker); Award of Air Force Cross to Robert Gutierrez, Jr. (here, next to this marker); Award of Air Force Cross to Dustin H. Temple (here, next to this marker); Award of Air Force Cross to Keary J.Miller (here, next to this marker); Award of Air Force Cross to Daniel P. Keller (here, next to this marker); Award of Air Force Cross to Alaxey Germanovich (here, next to this marker); Award of Air Force Cross to Zachary J. Rhyner (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex.
Also see . . . Defense Media Network - Master Sgt. Ivan M. Ruiz, Air Force Cross Recipient. (Submitted on June 26, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 667 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 26, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.