West Virginia airman awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism during Afghanistan evacuation

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) — A West Virginia airman was honored Sunday morning at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base for heroic actions throughout a dangerous evacuation mission in Afghanistan in 2021.

Though it was his own personal award, Master Sgt. William “Keith” McGraw called the operation a team effort.

“This may be an individual award, but that was a total team effort,” McGraw said. “Whether it was the United States Air Force, United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy — it was a complete and total effort during that time.”

McGraw received the Distinguished Flying Cross with “C” device during a ceremony recognizing “extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.”

McGraw served as a Phoenix Raven aboard a C-17A aircraft assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, 385th Air Expeditionary Group. On Aug. 30, 2021, his aircraft was one of five that departed the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, and the final U.S. flight into Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.

Teams aimed to evacuate U.S. personnel and highly sensitive equipment amid active threats such as air defense artillery, flares, heavy machine gun fire and reported rooftop snipers.

Despite conditions like deteriorating weather and high terrain along with the compromised airfield, the crew landed precisely and completed the operation in under 60 minutes. McGraw’s aircraft was the last to exit the airfield. Although a successful evacuation overall, McGraw does not forget those who were killed.

“Don’t forget the 13 individuals that lost their lives, almost four years ago to the day. Always remember them,” McGraw said.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, 13 U.S. service members and roughly 170 Afghan civilians lost their lives as a result of a suicide bombing affiliated with ISIS-K at the airport’s Abbey Gate during the evacuation efforts.

The evacuation was part of Operation Allies Refuge, which ultimately airlifted 124,000 individuals and is considered one of the largest evacuation operations in recorded U.S. history. Sunday’s honor recognized McGraw’s leadership, teamwork and heroism.