Keith Wayne Zuegel

Captain Keith W. Zuegel distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing force near Ali Al Salem Airfield, Kuwait on 17 January 1991. On that date, Captain Zuegel was an F-111F Element Lead Weapons System Officer in an attack against a hardened aircraft shelter on Ali Al Salem Airfield. Despite heavy antiaircraft fire which caused three of the six aircraft involved to turn back, and despite being forced to outmaneuver a surface-to-air missile during ingress, he and his aircraft commander elected to continue the attack. During his bomb delivery in the center of the intense airfield defenses, Captain Zuegel was able to maintain a solid lock on his target with the aircraft laser even while directing his aircraft commander to use violent maneuvering to avoid a surface-to-air missile launched at them. The result was direct hit, destroying the aircraft shelter. Again during egress north of Kuwait City, Captain Zuegel directed his aircraft commander to use chaff and maneuvering to avoid a third missile fired at their aircraft, prior to punching through the last of the antiaircraft artillery and ground fire to the relative safety of the Persian Gulf. By his gallantry and selfless devotion to duty, Captain Zuegel has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.