Jason Quesenberry

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Jason Quesenberry, Technical Sergeant, U.S. Air Force, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the 17th Air Support Operations Squadron, 18th Air Support Operations Group, in support of elements of the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment, during the opening stages of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in late March and early April 2003. Technical Sergeant Quesenberry distinguished himself during an attack that killed a combat controller and wounded three Army Rangers while assigned to a Ranger team near western Iraq. During the attack, he risked exposure to rocket and small arms fire in order to direct close-air support aircraft and cover his teammates. After being wounded by a rocket he disregarded his injuries and saved his team’s only communications link, his radio and Global Positioning System from a burning vehicle. Despite heavy bleeding, Technical Sergeant Quesenberry refused medical treatment so he could continue coordinating air cover as the team moved to a safer position. He then treated the wounded, established a hasty defense and controlled air cover while coordinating their evacuation.