Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: February 13, 2003
• Invested on: September 12, 2003

Captain Kyle Michael Strong, M.B.
Zachary Vanthournout, M.B., C.D.,
Medal of Bravery

On March 14, 2002, while on a mission in Afghanistan, Capt Strong, then Lieutenant, and Mr. Vanthournout, then Warrant Officer, risked their lives to rescue a crew member who was falling out of the open back of a helicopter during takeoff. After landing on uneven ground, the pilot suddenly executed a premature takeoff, causing the victim to slide off the aircraft's lowered ramp. Hanging dangerously off the edge of the ramp, the man managed to grab onto a colleague's leg. Without concern for his own safety, Mr. Vanthournout removed part of his equipment and leaned out to grab the victim by his rucksack. Seeing his colleagues' predicament, Capt Strong also rushed forward and, in spite of the turbulence, assisted in pulling the victim from his precarious position back into the helicopter.