Former "Our Local Hero" Awarded Air Force's Second Highest Honor
Save Email Print
Updated: 4:31 PM Mar 4, 2009
Former "Our Local Hero" Awarded Air Force's Second Highest Honor
Staff Sergeant Zachary Rhyner of Medford will be awarded the Air Force Cross Tuesday. The military says he was injured by a bullet during the attack in the Afghan mountains in April, but still managed to radio for air support to prevent his team from being overrun.
Posted: 4:27 PM Mar 4, 2009
Reporter: Associated Press & Jeff Thelen
Font Size:

POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. (AP) -- A former NewsChannel 7 "Our Local Hero" has earned the Air Force Cross.

22-year old Staff Sergeant Zachary Rhyner of Medford was part of a six-hour battle in the Afghan mountains and suffered a thigh injury from a bullet during the attack.

Yet Rhyner calmly radioed pilots to call in specific air strikes to make sure insurgents didn't overrun his team trapped atop a 60-foot cliff last April.

Rhyner alone called in more than 150 rockets, a dozen 500-pound bombs, nine Hellfire missiles and one 2,000-pound bomb.

The Air Force Cross is the second highest medal for valor in the Air Force.

Rhyner said he was surprised by the honor, which he will receive Tuesday.

He and his brothers were named "Our Local Heroes" in February, 2008.
More Stories