For fearless maneuvers that enabled the rescue of 91 Italian and Afghan special forces, helicopter pilot, gunner and Claymont native Donald K. Procter has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, a medal that recognizes “exceptional heroism.”
Procter, 47, flies the AH-64D Apache attack helicopter. Now deployed in Afghanistan, Procter is stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, and has served multiple deployments in Iraq, Korea, and Afghanistan. In more than two decades of service, Procter has served with the Delaware Army National Guard, U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force.
The official Army report says Procter was providing air support for special forces during a combat assault and search and seizure operation in Kharaba-I-Khwaja Mu, Afghanistan, on Oct. 2, 2010. After 3 ½ hours and two suppressive battles, with escalating fire from enemy forces, Procter handed the battle over to another attack team. But after his departure, the special forces started taking on enemy fire from every direction. An emergency rescue was requested, but it would be no easy task.
The pinned-down troops were at the bottom of a 2,500-foot river canyon, surrounded by mountains and only about a mile wide.
Procter heard a call that an Apache helicopter had been hit by small-arms fire, and when he was directed to return to the area he did so immediately. After arriving, his wingman was forced to leave to refuel. Procter stayed on to provide security for five aircraft arriving to airlift the troops out of the canyon. He saw that they were taking small-arms fire from just 450 feet away, and “with disregard to his own safety,” the Army report says, Procter unleashed his 2.75-inch rockets and 30mm guns, silencing the enemy fire and allowing the airlift to unfold.
“As a result of his actions, all 91 ground force soldiers were successfully extracted while only sustaining four wounded,” the Army narrative says. “CW3 Procter’s professional ability and heroic actions were above and beyond the call of duty and ensured the survival of numerous friendly forces.”
Procter, 47, flies the AH-64D Apache attack helicopter. Now deployed in Afghanistan, Procter is stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, and has served multiple deployments in Iraq, Korea, and Afghanistan. In more than two decades of service, Procter has served with the Delaware Army National Guard, U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force.
The official Army report says Procter was providing air support for special forces during a combat assault and search and seizure operation in Kharaba-I-Khwaja Mu, Afghanistan, on Oct. 2, 2010. After 3 ½ hours and two suppressive battles, with escalating fire from enemy forces, Procter handed the battle over to another attack team. But after his departure, the special forces started taking on enemy fire from every direction. An emergency rescue was requested, but it would be no easy task.
The pinned-down troops were at the bottom of a 2,500-foot river canyon, surrounded by mountains and only about a mile wide.
Procter heard a call that an Apache helicopter had been hit by small-arms fire, and when he was directed to return to the area he did so immediately. After arriving, his wingman was forced to leave to refuel. Procter stayed on to provide security for five aircraft arriving to airlift the troops out of the canyon. He saw that they were taking small-arms fire from just 450 feet away, and “with disregard to his own safety,” the Army report says, Procter unleashed his 2.75-inch rockets and 30mm guns, silencing the enemy fire and allowing the airlift to unfold.
“As a result of his actions, all 91 ground force soldiers were successfully extracted while only sustaining four wounded,” the Army narrative says. “CW3 Procter’s professional ability and heroic actions were above and beyond the call of duty and ensured the survival of numerous friendly forces.”
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