French Gen. Bertrand Ract-Madoux, Chief of Staff of the French Army, congratulates U.S. Army Capt. Benjamin H. March and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Keenan A. Bachmeyer; both OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter pilots from the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, Fort Drum, NY; after presenting them the Cross of Military Valor with Silver Star on Oct. 23, 2012 in Washington DC.

The pilots earned the award, among the highest in the French military, for their courageous actions while providing air support to French special forces in eastern Afghanistan, Dec. 10, 2010.

During the operation both pilots suffered wounds from enemy fire but continued to provide life-saving air support to the ground troops.

Photo courtesy of France in the United States; Embassy of France in Washington