D-M team member awarded Airman's Medal

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tim Beckham
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Staff Sgt. Timothy Hahn, who died trying to rescue another drowning hiker in August near Sabino Canyon, was posthumously awarded the Airman's Medal for his exemplary courage and bravery Jan. 16. Members of Sergeant Hahn's unit, along with friends and family, were on hand to honor him.

"We are asked to place our lives above our self and that's what makes American Airmen so special; Airmen like Sergeant Timothy Hahn," said Col. Kenneth Todorov, 23rd Wing commander at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. "It's remarkable that without concern for his own life Sergeant Hahn instantly sprung into action."

On the afternoon of Aug. 4, 2007 Sergeant Hahn made the ultimate sacrifice after, without warning, a raging flash flood descended through the canyon causing mass confusion.

During the flood, Sergeant Hahn, a former member of the 563rd Maintenance Squadron here, saw a female member of his group being swept across the torrent, when without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own safety, he rushed to aide the woman.
The woman, who was desperately clinging for life to a large boulder, was met by Sergeant Hahn in an attempt to extract her from the current. Unfortunately they were both overcome and swept away by the force of water and debris.

"When the flash flood hit Staff Sergeant Hahn put his life on the line, sadly he lost his life he gave his for Angela Knoche," said Col. Kent Laughbaum, 355th Fighter Wing commander. "For his fellow Airmen it (the ceremony) was a powerful moment, to see his daughter up there was a powerful statement about how his life would continue on and about our commitment to his family now and for all time. The combat rescue motto 'These things we do, that others may live' is easy to say but rare indeed to see someone quickly lay down his life - few reach the height he did. He was truly a hero."

The Airman's Medal was one of several Air Force awards established by Congress July 6, 1960 and took the place of the Soldier's Medal for Air Force personnel. It is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly nation who, while serving in any capacity with the United States Air Force after the date of the award's authorization, shall have distinguished them self by a heroic act, usually at the voluntary risk of his or her own life but not involving actual combat.