Chad P. Franks

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Chad P. Franks, Captain, U.S. Air Force, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in military operations against an armed enemy of the United States as Pilot of an MH-60G Pave Hawk Helicopter of the 55th Special Operations Squadron, 16th Special Operations Wing, in action near Batajnica, Serbia, on 27 March 1999. On that date, Captain Franks participated in a combat Search-and-Rescue Task Force tasked with locating and recovering an American F-117A pilot shot down within 25 miles of Belgrade. After the downed pilot was located, Captain Franks landed his Pave Hawk helicopter within 100 yards of the downed airman while his Pararescue men established a hasty perimeter. With minimal communication but careful and discreet authentication of his identity, the search and rescue team rushed the downed pilot onboard the MH-60G Pave Hawk and Captain Franks was airborne within sixty seconds, before any enemy response could occur, and returned with the rescued airman to base. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Franks has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.