Air Guard Technical Sgt. Byron Catu, a Monroe resident, honored for service during Afghan evacuation in 2021
The Airman's name was inadvertently misspelled in a typo. this has been corrected. Thank you for your understanding.
Newburgh, New York (05/25/2022) — New York Air National Guard Technical Sgt. Byron Catu, a Monroe resident, has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his actions taken while supporting the evacuation of Afghan allies of the United States from Kabul, Afghanistan in August of 2021.
Catu was one of three flying crew chiefs assigned to the 105th Airlift Wing recognized for their accomplishments during a May 15 ceremony at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York.
The Meritorious Service Medal is awarded for achievement in a designated combat zone.
Catu was recognized for his efforts during repeated flights to and from Kabul between August 13 and August 29 while Airmen assigned to the 105th Airlift Wing were operating C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in support of Operation Allies Refuge.
As the Taliban closed in on Afghanistan's capital sooner than anticipated, the Air Force mounted repeated missions to fly people from Hamid Karzai International Airport to bases outside that country.
Catu was assigned to a crew in order to provide maintenance support as required.
On his first mission into Afghanistan the crew flew into the airport in the dark of night, and the aircraft took damage from ground fire, to deliver a vitally needed MH-47 special operations helicopter and 22 Soldiers to main and support it. The helicopter was critical to conducting evacuation missions.
During that mission extreme airfield temperatures of over 115 degrees Fahrenheit resulted in fuel overheating and leaking from the aircraft's tanks.
"Catu recognized the emergency, immediately contained the situation and directed responding emergency services. His plan of action saved the mission and ensured critical special operations cargo was delivered," according to the Air Force.
On three other missions into Kabul, according to his citation, Catu "went above and beyond his maintainer duties to ensure the aircraft was able to quickly return to service and resume evacuation efforts" after carrying hundreds of people out of Afghanistan.
"Following each mission, the aircraft was rendered unusable due to biohazard waste and the high operations tempo constraining support personnel," the citation says.
"Finally, during an additional in-flight emergency, the crew was forced to return to their departure airfield where Sergeant Catu spearheaded the effort to expeditiously identify, fuel, and preflight another aircraft so the mission could continue," according to his citation.
"The overall mission success could not have been achieved without his outstanding professional skill and ceaseless efforts," according to the Air Force award.
The 105th Airlift Wing, based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, flies the C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft on cargo and troop carrier missions supporting U.S. military operations around the globe. The wing's personnel also support New York State emergency response missions when called upon by the governor.
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Technical Sgt. Byron Catu, a Monroe resident and a member of the 105th Airlift Wing, received the Meritorious Service Medal for his actions during Operation Allies Refuge in Afghanistan in August of 2021 during a May 15, 2022 ceremony at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh. New York.
Brig. Gen. Denise Donnell, the commander of the New York Air National Guard, left, presents the Meritorious Service Medal to Technical Sgt. Byron Catu on May 15, 2022 during a ceremony at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York. Catu was recognized for his actions during Operation Allies Refuge in Afghanistan in August of 2021 .
New York National Guard
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