Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz congratulates French air force Maj. Guillaume Vernet after presenting him with the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor July 13, 2011, at the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial in Marnes-la-Coquette, France.

Vernet was awarded the decoration for repeatedly flying into hostile territory in December 2009 while deployed to Afghanistan as an exchange officer with the 41st Rescue Squadron from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. During that mission, Vernet rescued an urgent casualty whose injury put the lives of 160 British soldiers in jeopardy.

Courtesy photo