Technical Sergeant Matthew P. McKenna distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United States in Mirza Kalay Village, Afghanistan on 12 September 2013. On that date, Technical Sergeant McKenna excelled as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller on a combined team of Army Special Operations Forces and Afghan 3d Special Operations Kandak conducting a raid in denied terrain. Shortly after infiltration, Sergeant McKenna controlled air and ground sensors to execute air strikes on I 0 insurgents in fighting positions preventing a catastrophic ambush. The patient enemy waited for reinforcements, maneuvered, and initiated a ferocious ambush from dominant fighting positions pinning down friendly elements. On several occasions, with no regard for his personal safety, Sergeant McKenna moved from cover, exposing himself to withering machine gun and rocket propelled grenade fire to locate friendly elements trapped by enemy fire . He then executed control of danger close precision strikes from airborne assets. The battle raged for several hours and friendly forces were burning through their supply of ammunition at a breakneck pace and were in grave danger of running out completely. Sergeant McKenna orchestrated an aerial resupply at two locations, placing ammunition within 50 feet of distressed forces preventing what was sure to be significant casualties. While friendly forces fought for their lives on the valley floor, insurgents from the surrounding areas responded with 65 reinforcements that maneuvered towards friendly locations. Enemy forces from the high ground began closing in on Sergeant McKenna's vulnerable position nearly enveloping it and threatening to overrun them. With complete disregard for his personal safety, and ignoring his teammates urging to find cover, Sergeant McKenna bounded away from cover further into the kill zone exposing himself to heavy fire from an advancing enemy in order to control danger close air strikes. The perfectly placed strikes provided time and space for friendly forces running low on ammunition to maneuver, ascend the mountain, and bound to the emergency exfiltration point. Sergeant McKenna's actions throughout the 13 hour battle ensured survivability of friendly forces against a formidable enemy, enabled his team to clear two kilometers of terrain, beat back three enemy counter attacks, and contributed substantially to an incredible 103 enemy killed in action.  By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Sergeant McKenna has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
08/08/2014
The ammunition supply was desperately low, and the troops were in grave danger of running out.

On that day in Afghanistan last year, Tech. Sgt. Matthew McKenna, a U.S. Air Force Combat Controller from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, prevented what could have been several casualties by orchestrating an aerial resupply to his comrades in two locations.

Throughout 13 hours of battle, McKenna helped his team clear 2 kilometers of terrain, repel three enemy counterattacks and contribute to 103 enemies killed in action.

On Monday, McKenna, 32, was awarded the Silver Star — the nation’s third-highest decoration for valor — for his actions on Sept. 12, 2013.

The Southern California native also received a Bronze Star for his cumulative work calling in more than 400 aircraft on enemy positions while deployed to Afghanistan from July 2013 to January 2014.

He was among six members of the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron who received special recognition Monday at JBLM for their efforts in the war.

McKenna joins 30 other Special Tactics airmen to receive a Silver Star since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

He’s the fourth member of his JBLM squadron to be awarded the medal.


“It’s humbling, honestly, to be here with teammates and family. We didn’t have anyone hurt, and I’m happy I was able to do my job,” he said.

The job of a Combat Controller is to go undetected into hostile environments to establish assault zones for Air Force crews to bring in heavy firepower.
It is among the most dangerous jobs for U.S. forces behind enemy lines.

But McKenna said he’d much prefer to fight in a combat situation than stand on a stage receiving an award.

A Silver Star citation, which was read aloud at Monday’s ceremony, described how he put himself in danger while insurgents closed in on U.S. and Afghan special operations forces who faced a “catastrophic ambush” in a village on a valley floor.

“On several occasions, with no regard for his personal safety, Sgt. McKenna moved from cover, exposing himself to withering machine gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire to locate friendly elements trapped by enemy fire,” the citation says.

“He then executed control of danger close precision strikes from airborne assets.”

Talking to a News Tribune reporter Monday, McKenna described his actions more modestly.

“Time goes by fast, and I’m making sure they’re looking out for me and I’m looking out for them,” said McKenna, who has deployed once to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan.

Airmen such as McKenna are a rare breed, said Lt. Gen. Bradley A. Heithold, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command.

“He put himself in harm’s way when he could have ducked behind a rock,” Heithold said.

Combat Controllers go through intensive tactical training for two years. Very few people have the mental and physical capabilities to do this kind of work, he said.

“I couldn’t do what they do, not even when I was 19 or 20,” Heithold said. “They sacrifice a tremendous amount.”

McKenna said he owes his success to the resiliency training he received. Pausing to take a breath and refocusing can be the difference between making a panicked or a calm decision, he said.

“On several occasions, with no regard for his personal safety, Sgt. McKenna moved from cover, exposing himself to withering machine gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire to locate friendly elements trapped by enemy fire,” the citation says.

“He then executed control of danger close precision strikes from airborne assets.”

Talking to a News Tribune reporter Monday, McKenna described his actions more modestly.

“Time goes by fast, and I’m making sure they’re looking out for me and I’m looking out for them,” said McKenna, who has deployed once to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan.

Airmen such as McKenna are a rare breed, said Lt. Gen. Bradley A. Heithold, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command.

“He put himself in harm’s way when he could have ducked behind a rock,” Heithold said.

Combat Controllers go through intensive tactical training for two years. Very few people have the mental and physical capabilities to do this kind of work, he said.

“I couldn’t do what they do, not even when I was 19 or 20,” Heithold said. “They sacrifice a tremendous amount.”

McKenna said he owes his success to the resiliency training he received. Pausing to take a breath and refocusing can be the difference between making a panicked or a calm decision, he said.

“On several occasions, with no regard for his personal safety, Sgt. McKenna moved from cover, exposing himself to withering machine gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire to locate friendly elements trapped by enemy fire,” the citation says.

“He then executed control of danger close precision strikes from airborne assets.”

Talking to a News Tribune reporter Monday, McKenna described his actions more modestly.


“Time goes by fast, and I’m making sure they’re looking out for me and I’m looking out for them,” said McKenna, who has deployed once to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan.

Airmen such as McKenna are a rare breed, said Lt. Gen. Bradley A. Heithold, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command.

“He put himself in harm’s way when he could have ducked behind a rock,” Heithold said.

Combat Controllers go through intensive tactical training for two years. Very few people have the mental and physical capabilities to do this kind of work, he said.

“I couldn’t do what they do, not even when I was 19 or 20,” Heithold said. “They sacrifice a tremendous amount.”
Left; Technical Seargent Matthew McKenna, third from left, a member of the Air Force's 22nd Special Tactics Squadron at JBLM relaxes and jokes with fellow airmen and family after he received the Silver Star during a ceremony at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Monday, Aug. 18, 2014 . McKenna, a Combat Controller deployed with a Army Special Forces unit in Afghanistan, helped direct airstrikes on insurgents during a ambush and a 13-hour battle in Sept. 2013 despite being exposed to withering machine gun fire and rocket propelled grenades.

McKenna said he owes his success to the resiliency training he received. Pausing to take a breath and refocusing can be the difference between making a panicked or a calm decision, he said.

McKenna is the third generation of his family to wear a military uniform.

“It’s part of my life,” he said, “I joined Special Tactics because I wanted a challenge. There’s something new every day, from jumping out of airplanes to diving into lakes.”


Five other airmen in the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron were recognized in the ceremony  at Joint Base Lewis-McChord for their recent work in Afghanistan.

• Staff Sgt. James McKinley Sparks — Bronze Star

• Tech. Sgt. Bridger Dawn Morris — Bronze Star

• Tech. Sgt. Tyler G. Britton — Bronze Star

• Tech. Sgt. Joseph Luera — Bronze Star and Air Force Combat Action Medal

• Senior Airman Douglas Perry — Air Force Combat Action Medal

Above; Lt. Gen. Bradley Heithold (left) applauds six Airmen from the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron Aug. 18, 2014, after awarding them with medals for valor during the 22nd STS awards ceremony at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Heithold pinned eight medals on to the Airmen which included a Silver Star, a Bronze Star with Valor and four Bronze Stars. Heithold is the the Air Force Special Operations Command commander

Staff Sgt. James Sparks, a 22nd STS Combat Controller, was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for his actions during a 2012 deployment to Afghanistan. Attached to an Army special forces team, he was able to integrate airpower into 26 combat missions where he controlled 142 different aircraft maintaining fire superiority. His actions resulted in the neutralization of five key leaders, 14 enemy killed in action and three captured.

Tech. Sgt. Bridger Morris, a 22nd STS Combat Controller, was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions during a deployment to Afghanistan from 2013 to 2014. Within this time, Morris disrupted insurgent networks by directing 207 aircraft employing air to ground attacks on the enemy which resulted in 23 enemies killed in action and eight captured.

Tech. Sgt. Tyler Britton, a 22nd STS tactical air control party member, was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions during a deployment to Afghanistan from 2013 to 2014. In addition to his joint attack controller duties, he was involved in a three day operation where he engaged the enemy with accurate fire in order to extract wounded teammates out of harm's way.

Tech. Sgt. Joseph Luera, a 22nd STS tactical air control party member, was awarded the Bronze Star and the Air Force Combat Action medal for his actions during a deployment to Afghanistan from 2013 to 2014. During one operation, Luera exposed himself to gunfire in order to adjust aircraft fire to maximize the effectiveness of each airborne attack he called, which resulted in the death of six enemy Taliban members including a key Taliban commander.

Staff Sgt. Douglas Perry, a 22nd STS Combat Controller, was awarded the Air Force Combat Action medal for his active participation in combat in connection with a military operation on Aug. 26, 2013, while serving with Operation Enduring Freedom.

"I would argue that the 22nd STS and the 24th Special Operations Wing is by far the most decorated unit in the United States Air Force," Heithold said. "I'm not bragging or here to trumpet our successes. But I will tell you one thing. I'm awfully proud to be the commander of AFSOC and to be the commander of these men and women out there getting it done."