Col. T.J. Jamison, the commanding officer for the 82nd

Col. T.J. Jamison, the commanding officer for the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, awards Chief Warrant Officer Matthew A. McEvers with the Distinguished Flying Cross, Sept. 9, for his heroic actions while serving as a flight lead pilot during Operation Enduring Freedom 2009-2010. McEvers, of Fayetteville, N.C., and fellow pilot, Chief Warrant Officer Omar Torres, provided air support to Coalition forces on the ground who were under attack from insurgents in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, Nov. 11, 2009. After using their own ammunition to help defeat an insurgent attack, their Scout Weapons Team remained overhead to assist ground forces in adjusting friendly mortar fire as they continue to fight off the insurgents. The pilots’ extraordinary actions in aerial flight, in support of the ground forces, enhanced freedom of maneuver for Afghan civilians, and prevented a catastrophic loss of lives. Their accurate and timely identification of well-established enemy ambush positions, and their accurate employment of weapons resulted in the friendly forces gaining the initiative. Both pilots were serving with the 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 82nd CAB.