Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex in Montgomery County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Award of Air Force Cross to Richard B. Hunter
Photographed By Mark Hilton, April 15, 2023
1. Award of Air Force Cross to Richard B. Hunter Marker
Inscription.
Award of Air Force Cross to Richard B. Hunter. .
Citation to Accompany the Award of the Air Force Cross to Richard B. Hunter . Staff Sergeant Richard B. Hunter distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in military operations against an armed enemy as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller in Kunduz Province, Afghanistan from 2 November 2016 to 3 November 2016. During this period, while assigned to a special forces team, Sergeant Hunter displayed extraordinary bravery as his team assaulted an insurgent safe haven. As they moved in a narrow alley, Taliban fighters ambushed them with grenade and heavy machine gun fire. With no regard for his own life, Sergeant Hunter placed himself between the enemy and his team, to allow withdrawal from the kill zone, he positioned himself at the rear of the element, closest to the threat to prevent fratricide, and directed multiple danger close airstrikes to within 20 meters. With the team still under persistent enemy fire, sergeant hunter and four teammates cleared a compound to gain cover. Upon hearing a call for help, he again exposed himself to fire, rushing outside the compound to drag a wounded teammate 30 meters to safety. For the next two hours he controlled four ad-1300 and AH-64D aircraft, continually directing fire on enemy positions including 105 millimeter rounds to within 13 meters of his own location. During exfiltration, he called for airstrikes to suppress heavy enemy fire, and he bravely entered an open field during daylight to mark a landing zone. Throughout the eight hour assault, Sergeant Hunter alternated between firing his weapon at the enemy and controlling air assets, directing 1,787 munitions in 31 danger-close engagements, most within 90 meters resulting in 57 lives saved and 27 enemies killed. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Sergeant Hunter reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Citation to Accompany the Award of
the Air Force Cross
to Richard B. Hunter
Staff Sergeant Richard B. Hunter distinguished himself
by extraordinary heroism in military operations
against an armed enemy as a Joint Terminal Attack
Controller in Kunduz Province, Afghanistan from 2
November 2016 to 3 November 2016. During this period,
while assigned to a special forces team, Sergeant
Hunter displayed extraordinary bravery as his team
assaulted an insurgent safe haven. As they moved in a
narrow alley, Taliban fighters ambushed them with
grenade and heavy machine gun fire. With no regard
for his own life, Sergeant Hunter placed himself
between the enemy and his team, to allow withdrawal
from the kill zone, he positioned himself at the rear of
the element, closest to the threat to prevent
fratricide, and directed multiple danger close
airstrikes to within 20 meters. With the team still
under persistent enemy fire, sergeant hunter and four
teammates cleared a compound to gain cover. Upon
hearing a call for help, he again exposed himself to
fire, rushing outside the compound to drag a wounded
teammate 30 meters to safety. For the next two hours
he controlled four ad-1300 and AH-64D aircraft,
continually directing fire on enemy positions including
105 millimeter
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rounds to within 13 meters of his own
location. During exfiltration, he called for airstrikes
to suppress heavy enemy fire, and he bravely entered
an open field during daylight to mark a landing zone.
Throughout the eight hour assault, Sergeant Hunter
alternated between firing his weapon at the enemy and
controlling air assets, directing 1,787 munitions in 31
danger-close engagements, most within 90 meters
resulting in 57 lives saved and 27 enemies killed.
Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship,
and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Sergeant
Hunter reflected the highest credit upon himself and
the United States Air Force.
Location. 32° 24.267′ N, 86° 14.982′ W. Marker is in Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex, Alabama, in Montgomery County. Memorial is on Avenue D, on the right when traveling south. 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 36115, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking
Photographed By Mark Hilton, April 15, 2023
2. Award of Air Force Cross to Richard B. Hunter Marker
3. Award of Air Force Cross to Richard B. Hunter Marker in middle.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 16, 2023, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 75 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on April 16, 2023, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
