The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel James E. Fairchild, United States Air Force, for gallantry in military operations against an opposing armed force as a member of the 335th Fighter Squadron, during combat operations in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, at Shahi Kot Valley, Afghanistan, on 4 March 2002. Flying as Twister 51, Lieutenant Colonel Fairchild contacted Slick 1, who reported they were taking fire from enemy troops 75 meters from their position. Slick 01 requested strafe passes only, due to danger-close friendly troops within minimum risk distances of injury and death from friendly weapons expenditures on enemy locations. Target recognition and accurate delivery were imperative. Twister 51, without regard for his own safety, made four strafe passes at 1,500 feet above ground level, well within the threat envelope of small-arms fire and surface-to-air missiles. Out of high-explosive incendiary ammunition, Twister 51 became the forward air controller-airborne, targeting Twister 52 on four more low-altitude strafe passes employing 20-millimeter ammunition. Twister 51, again acting as forward air controller-airborne, cleared Clash flight into the target area. Due to the expeditious target handoff, Clash 71 was able to make the first strafing pass five minutes after arriving in the target area. With Slick 01’s concurrence, Twister flight attempted to walk each of their successive bombs closer to Taliban and al-Qaida forces without injuring United States forces 75 meters away. Twister 52 dropped 400 meters away from the friendly location, followed by Colonel Fairchild, who dropped a single laser-guided bomb 200 meters from the friendly location. By inflicting direct losses to al-Qaida and Taliban forces and subjecting himself to enemy fire to suppress the same and provide cover for downed friendly troops 75 meters from enemy forces, Fairchild’s aviation prowess was responsible for the eventual rescue of 23 personnel and for advancing the goals of the United States’ war on terrorism. Lieutenant Colonel Fairchild remained on-station for more than five hours, two hours past the scheduled coverage time, combining to make it a 12.3-hour combat sortie with three night and five day air-to-air re-fuelings per fighter. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Lieutenant Colonel Fairchild has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.