Lt. Col. Gail D Fancher receives Air Medal

  • Published
  • By Airman First Class Christopher Arnold
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Lt. Col. Gail D. Fancher received the Air Medal for meritorious achievement during missions as a flight surgeon at Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq from May to September 2008.

"It means a lot to me to receive the Air Medal because I'm doing the two things I like the most taking care of people and flying," said Fancher.

During the four months she served in Iraq, Lt. Col. Fancher flew 20 combat missions, logging more than 40 hours in support of Operation Iraqi freedom. All of these missions were flown in hazardous areas, and included small arms fire, anti-aircraft artillery and surface to air missiles as well as direct and indirect attacks at landing airfields and forward operating bases. As physician-in-charge Lt. Col. Fancher, working with a United States Army aircrew, flew over 18 medical evacuation missions delivering lifesaving and sustaining medical care for more than 16 critically injured coalition and Iraqi military personnel. Additionally, Lt. Col. Fancher's aeromedical skill and knowledge directly supported the Army's Charlie Company, 2-1 Aviation Regiment, expanding their in-flight medical capabilities. Furthermore, her medical expertise was crucial to the implementation of the Iraqi Air Force's Cessna 208 pilot training syllabus. Lt. Col. Fancher taught aerospace physiology to Iraqi instructor pilots and they all passed their tests.

Lt. Col. Fancher said she felt proud that they had all passed their tests and that she had helped with the retraining and rebuilding of their air force.

"This medal means to me ... the comradery that only happens with your brothers and sisters-in-arms. For me to have this medal and to know that those guys are the reason... the patients we took care of are the reason it happened." said Fancher.

Fancher shared that one of the most memorable moments for her was when her crew had 23 injured people come through the Inez Hospital for evacuation to Balad Hospital, Lt. Col. Fancher said. It took two flight surgeons and two helicopters. On this specific trip there were six patients, three were on ventilators. Soon after leaving, her crew was told the winds were too violent to fly near Balad; upon receiving this message they returned back to the Inez hospital where they unloaded the patients. They had to make sure the ventilators stayed running while they waited. Later that evening they re-loaded the patients back on the helicopters and took them to Mazul, then from Mazul they sent a C-130 Hercules to pick up the patients and take them to Balad.

"I would like to thank Col. Gregorio in support of this medal, and Col. Ty Thomas," said Fancher. Col. Thomas presented the Air Medal April 13, 2010.