The <strong>Airlift</strong>/<strong>Tanker</strong> <strong>Association</strong> 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 • <strong>Airlift</strong>/<strong>Tanker</strong> Quarterly • Fall 2008
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