The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Achievement Medal with Valor to First Lieutenant Timothy R. Saxton, United States Air Force. First Lieutenant Saxton distinguished himself by heroism as HC-130P Copilot while engaged in ground operations against an opposing armed force at El Fashir, Sudan, on 28 November 2006. On that date, on an air-land mission, Lieutenant Saxton and his crew were detained at gun point and ordered to surrender by the Sudanese military under accusations of espionage. Lieutenant Saxton refused to surrender. He was taken out of visual range from the crew by the captors to resolve a landing fee dispute. He successfully resolved the dispute and returned to the crew where he took up a position outside the aircraft and prevented armed troops from breaching the force protection perimeter. He negotiated with the hostile force for 4 hours at great personal risk, attempting to buy time for diplomatic channels to affect their release. Tensions quickly escalated when the hostile force received clearance to seize the plane and crew by force. Facing mortal danger, Lieutenant Saxton manned a defensive firing position against a force of over 150 heavily armed troops for 2 hours until diplomatic channels prevailed. All 17 American detainees returned with honor. By his heroic actions and unselfish dedication to duty, Lieutenant Saxton has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.