The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Airman’s Medal to Staff Sergeant Gregory R. Hehir, United States Air Force, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life over 200 nautical miles east of Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, on 26 January 1994. On that date, Staff Sergeant Hehir jumped into the water from a hovering HH-3E helicopter and swam to the fishing vessel Saint Elmo, to begin life-saving medical aid to a severely injured fisherman. Staff Sergeant Hehir assessed the patient, began treatment, and prepared him for hoist recovery. At exactly the same time the helicopter began to raise the patient from the rolling deck, a large wave struck the ship, slamming Staff Sergeant Hehir to the deck and driving the litter under the side rail and into the water. The helicopter’s hoist cable became entangled in the ship’s railing while the combination of wave action and the ship’s forward momentum sucked the litter and patient under the ship towards the ship’s propellers. With total disregard for his own personal safety, Staff Sergeant Hehir immediately leaped over the railing and into the sea to save the now helpless patient from drowning. Despite the pull of the ship’s propeller and the lack of swim gear, Staff Sergeant Hehir swam underneath the patient and pushed the patient’s head above the water while he remained completely submerged. Staff Sergeant Hehir ignored the severe cramping in his legs and lack of oxygen long enough to keep the patient breathing and avoid the spinning propellers until the hoist cable could be sheared. Once free from the fishing vessel, Staff Sergeant Hehir hooked the litter to an improvised recovery device while the helicopter maintained a low hover over the ocean. Staff Sergeant Hehir was credited with saving one life on this demanding rescue mission. The exemplary courage and heroism displayed by Sergeant Hehir reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.