Contents - Airlift/Tanker Association

The Airlift/Tanker Association General P.K. Carlton Award for Valor is
presented annually to an individual who demonstrates courage,
strength, determination, bravery and fearlessness during a
combat, contingency or humanitarian mission
during the previous calendar year.
TSgt Denton enlisted in the Air Force in 1995 and was assigned to
Little Rock AFB. There, he worked in the Emergency Room, Urgent Care,
and the Family Practice clinic. He volunteered for Aeromedical Evacuation
Technician (AET) duty in 1999 and was assigned
to the 43 AES at Pope AFB. His duties included contingency
support for deployment training and operations
and squadron professional development. He
progressed through the AET career field as evidenced
by his selection as AET Flight Instructor and further
as AET Flight Examiner. His next assignment was to
the 18 AES, Yokota AB Japan from August 2003 - September
2006. While assigned to the 18 AES, TSgt Denton’s
leadership abilities were utilized as the NCOIC,
Standardization and Evaluation, and he completed
his tour as the NCOIC, Medical Readiness office. As
the Medical Readiness NCOIC, he was pivotal to the
18 AES move to Kadena AB Japan in 2005. TSgt Denton
PCS’d to Scott AFB in October 2006 and has continued
his career as the NCOIC, Standardization and
Evaluation.
TSgt Denton’s prior awards and achievements
include the Air Medal (1 OLC), the Air Force Commendation
Medal (1 OLC), and the Air Force
Achievement Medal (2 OLC).
Calm Determination Saves Lives
As a USAF Aeromedical Evacuation Technician, Technical Sergeant
Denton volunteered for an “in lieu of” deployment tasking in support
of US Army helicopter medical evacuations in the OEF AOR. He
deployed to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan as an HH-60 Pavehawk
Flight Medic from 27 July – 7 December 2007. During his deployment,
a single day would test his medical training and his mental resolve.
As Senior Flight Medic, TSgt Denton was responsible for all initial
training for newly assigned medics as they arrived in theater. On 13
October he was scheduled to provide an orientation flight for a newly
arrived medic when the urgent call for medevac was received. A suicide
bomber detonated a personnel-borne improvised explosive device in a
crowded civilian market place killing 7 and wounding 39 civilians. TSgt
Denton and his partner were alerted to fly an opportune mission aboard
a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook. Their tasking linked them with two U.S.
Army flight surgeons and two U.S. Army flight medics with a requirement
to pick up and transport casualties to the medical unit at Kandahar.
On the first run into the mass casualty incident the crew received 10
critical patients, all of whom had sustained major multi-system trauma.
2008 A/TA General P. K. Carlton
Award for Valor
Technical Sergeant David M. Denton
“…the battle, sir, is not to the strong alone, it is to the vigilant, the active, and brave.”
–Patrick Henry
The Army flight surgeons and flight medics began treatment of the four
most critical patients. TSgt Denton was placed in charge of six patients
and directed their care and treatment. He thoroughly assessed each patient
and promptly identified two with respiratory
compromise that he corrected with supplemental
oxygen. All of the patients had uncontrolled external
arterial bleeding requiring rapid intervention. TSgt
Denton applied tourniquets on two patients and
bandages to all the open wounds to control blood
loss. As he applied the tourniquets he directed his
partner to gain intravenous (I.V.) access and began
rapid infusion of I.V. fluids. His quick identification
of the life threatening arterial bleeding prevented the
loss of major extremities for both patients. Under
TSgt Denton’s care and direction all of the patients
were stabilized prior to the CH-47 landing at Kandahar.
On arrival at Kandahar airfield the crew was
tasked to return to the incident site to airlift 8 additional
casualties from the blast. TSgt Denton expedited
the first patient offload at the hospital, and
while the CH-47 refueled, directed the restocking of
medical supplies and equipment for the second run
to the incident site. The second load of patients was
airlifted without incident and transferred to the Kandahar hospital.
After completion of the second mission, the Chinook crew notified
TSgt Denton that his crew was tasked to fly another medical evacuation
alert, this time on a HH-60 Pavehawk, to airlift a US military
member from a forward operating base (FOB) to the medical unit at
Qalat. The patient was suffering from a surgical emergency, but was
stable and only required monitoring during the flight to Qalat.
On approach into Qalat, the crew was notified of yet another
medical evacuation to a FOB for a patient who sustained a gunshot
wound to the abdomen. During the return flight to Qalat, the patient
developed external bleeding and became unresponsive. TSgt Denton
again quickly identified the life threatening condition, initiated another
I.V. access for fluid resuscitation, and reinforced the bandages
and dressings. The patient was stabilized and offloaded at Qalat.
In summary, TSgt Denton’s bravery and sheer determination on this
day were crucial to the life-and-limb saving treatment of 20 patients
and indicative of his heroic efforts on multiple missions during this
long deployment. TSgt Denton embodies the spirit of the General P.K.
Carlton Award.
48 A/TQ • Airlift/Tanker Quarterly • Fall 2008