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SRA Jason Cunningham Memorial page, Flora Vista, NM (2026)

Oftentimes, those in support roles – logisticians, medics, reconnaissance experts – display unbelievable courage as they are called on to help those on the frontlines. Their training prepares them to answer the call of duty, to help their fellow brothers-in-arms, no matter the cost – even if that cost is the ultimate sacrifice, death. Senior Airman Cunningham, a former sailor, became an Air Force

pararescueman because he wanted to help others. As a combat medic, his job was often dangerous, but allowed him to help those most in need – injured servicemen and women. On March 4, 2002, Cunningham was the medic assigned to a quick reaction force headed for the Takur Ghar mountain in the Paktia province in Afghanistan. Their mission was to search for and rescue a SEAL who had been thrown from a helicopter during a confrontation with Taliban and al Qaeda forces. Enemy forces were waiting for the expected search and rescue team to arrive. As Cunningham and his unit approached the mountain, al Qaeda fighters began shooting at their Chinook using RPGs. A direct hit ripped into the helicopter, forcing it to the ground. Members of the team sustained injuries on impact, but they had no time to stop and treat the wounded as the enemies began a heavy volley of fire toward them. Those not injured spread out and took cover, leaving Cunningham and another medic to treat the wounded in an exposed position. Cunningham’s attention was focused on what he cared about most – the 10 wounded servicemen. With enemy bullets whizzing past, he ran through the line of fire three times to the burning helicopter to grab the wounded and move them to a safer location. Not even a shot through the small of his back stopped him from doing his job; he continued to treat the injured – some whose wounds were not as severe as his. As his condition worsened, he instructed the other medics on how to treat the injuries of his fellow servicemen. Cunningham’s injuries proved fatal, but his efforts saved the lives of the 10 seriously wounded Americans. For his actions on “Robert’s Ridge,” Cunningham was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross on Sept. 12, 2002, an award second only to the nation’s highest award, the Medal of Honor.

03/04/2026

Gone but NEVER forgotten...💚

12/31/2025

MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY ICO MEDAL UPGRADE FOR SRA JASON CUNNINGHAM
1. Considering recent and significantly compelling material information provided by eyewitnesses regarding the actions of SrA Cunningham during the Battle of Takur Ghar where he lost his life, I am requesting you initiate a Congressional Inquiry to the United States Air Force to review SrA Cunningham’s Air Force Cross (AFC) for upgrade to the Congressional Medal of Honor.
2. I understand that SrA Cunningham’s Air Force Cross was part of the 2014 Secretary of Defense mandate to the Service Secretary’s to review all Service Crosses and Silver Star medals for potential upgrade (without the requirement to provide new evidence). During this review SrA Cunninghams AFC was reviewed and determined to not meet the requirement to be upgraded to the Congressional Medal of Honor.
3. This review/evaluation was carried out in accordance with the SECDEF criteria and only considered the original AFC citation and supporting evidence. No newly acquired evidence was considered.
4. During the Congressional Medal of Honor upgrade review for another USAF Airman, information not previously known about SrA Cunningham’s actions was uncovered during the interview of an eyewitness. The eyewitness was the pilot (Warrant Officer Charles “Chuck” Gant) of the helicopter (RAZOR 01) that had been shot down with SrA Cunningham aboard. This pilot had been seriously wounded and was being treated by SrA just before SrA Cunningham was wounded. Warrant Officer Gant had not been previously interviewed regarding SrA Cunningham’s actions where he related the story that was revealed to a military investigator in 2017. The story provides some very compelling information that many military personnel familiar with this Battle and actions in combat, feel warrants a relook at SrA Cunningham’s AFC for upgrade to the Congressional Medal of Honor.
5. Warrant Officer Gant related that after being wounded he was eventually brough to a Casualty Collection Point (CCP) to the rear and downslope from the MH-47 helicopter where the rest of the Ranger Quick Reaction Force (QRF) was engaging the enemy that were upslope forward of the helicopter. Warrant Officer Gant was strapped to a stretcher and being treated, along with the other casualties, but SrA Cunningham when additional enemy combatants engaged the CCP from a position further downslope. The enemy was firing AK-47 automatic rifles into the CCP and 7.62mm rounds were hitting all around the wounded and the medics. Warrant Officer Gant recalls telling everyone to “play dead” so they stop shooting at the wounded. SrA Cunningham followed these orders and laid down next to Warrant Officer Gant, curled up facing East away from Gant. Warrant Officer Gant heard SrA Cunning grunt twice, then heard nothing. Gant asked “Hey, are you ok?” SrA Cunningham, without moving said “I’m hit.” Gant inquired “How bad?” SrA Cunningham said “Bad.” According to Gant this was surprising to him because every other casualty that had been shot (to include the two seriously wounded SEALs as determined from previous interviews) had screamed in pain when they were hit, several having to be told to quiet down as to not give away their position. Gant recalls asking SrA Cunningham why has wasn’t screaming, as it had struck Gant as weird that Cunningham only grunted when hit twice by 7.62mm AK047 rounds through his lower back travelling up into his vital organs. SrA Jason Cunninghams response “You told me to play dead.” Gant recalls how this reply really struck him and to this day is one of the toughest things to deal with when he thinks about the harrowing day and how SrA Cunningham continued to direct treatment and denying treatment for himself until he was no longer coherent from loss of blood. SrA Cunningham would eventually succumb to his wounds as the leadership far from the battlefield would not risk a fourth MH-47 to go in until after the mountaintop was secure and darkness arrived after sunset.
6. This eyewitness statement regarding SrA Cunninghams actions, in an effort to save the casualties he was treating, followed orders to remain motionless and play dead, even after having been hit twice with devastating effects by enemy fire, then despite his wounds continued to do everything in his power to continue directing life saving efforts while denying some of the treatments to save them for others.
7. These actions absolutely meet, beyond reasonable doubt, the Congressional Medal of Honor criteria of Gallantry and Intrepidity, putting their life at risk in a conflict against an enemy. As such I am requesting you submit a Congressional Inquiry to the United States Air Force to review SrA Jason Cunningham’s Air Force Cross for upgrade to the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Very Respectfully,
Lori Cunningham (sister)

10/10/2025

MEMORANDUM

FROM: Lori Cunningham
TO: The Honorable Congressmen

SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY ICO MEDAL UPGRADE FOR SRA JASON CUNNINGHAM

1. Considering recent and significantly compelling material information provided by eyewitnesses regarding the actions of SrA Cunningham during the Battle of Takur Ghar where he lost his life, I am requesting you initiate a Congressional Inquiry to the United States Air Force to review SrA Cunningham’s Air Force Cross (AFC) for upgrade to the Congressional Medal of Honor.

2. I understand that SrA Cunningham’s Air Force Cross was part of the 2014 Secretary of Defense mandate to the Service Secretary’s to review all Service Crosses and Silver Star medals for potential upgrade (without the requirement to provide new evidence). During this review SrA Cunninghams AFC was reviewed and determined to not meet the requirement to be upgraded to the Congressional Medal of Honor.

3. This review/evaluation was carried out in accordance with the SECDEF criteria and only considered the original AFC citation and supporting evidence. No newly acquired evidence was considered.

4. During the Congressional Medal of Honor upgrade review for another USAF Airman, information not previously known about SrA Cunningham’s actions was uncovered during the interview of an eyewitness. The eyewitness was the pilot (Warrant Officer Charles “Chuck” Gant) of the helicopter (RAZOR 01) that had been shot down with SrA Cunningham aboard. This pilot had been seriously wounded and was being treated by SrA just before SrA Cunningham was wounded. Warrant Officer Gant had not been previously interviewed regarding SrA Cunningham’s actions where he related the story that was revealed to a military investigator in 2017. The story provides some very compelling information that many military personnel familiar with this Battle and actions in combat, feel warrants a relook at SrA Cunningham’s AFC for upgrade to the Congressional Medal of Honor.
5. Warrant Officer Gant related that after being wounded he was eventually brough to a Casualty Collection Point (CCP) to the rear and downslope from the MH-47 helicopter where the rest of the Ranger Quick Reaction Force (QRF) was engaging the enemy that were upslope forward of the helicopter. Warrant Officer Gant was strapped to a stretcher and being treated, along with the other casualties, but SrA Cunningham when additional enemy combatants engaged the CCP from a position further downslope. The enemy was firing AK-47 automatic rifles into the CCP and 7.62mm rounds were hitting all around the wounded and the medics. Warrant Officer Gant recalls telling everyone to “play dead” so they stop shooting at the wounded. SrA Cunningham followed these orders and laid down next to Warrant Officer Gant, curled up facing East away from Gant. Warrant Officer Gant heard SrA Cunning grunt twice, then heard nothing. Gant asked “Hey, are you ok?” SrA Cunningham, without moving said “I’m hit.” Gant inquired “How bad?” SrA Cunningham said “Bad.” According to Gant this was surprising to him because every other casualty that had been shot (to include the two seriously wounded SEALs as determined from previous interviews) had screamed in pain when they were hit, several having to be told to quiet down as to not give away their position. Gant recalls asking SrA Cunningham why has wasn’t screaming, as it had struck Gant as weird that Cunningham only grunted when hit twice by 7.62mm AK047 rounds through his lower back travelling up into his vital organs. SrA Jason Cunninghams response “You told me to play dead.” Gant recalls how this reply really struck him and to this day is one of the toughest things to deal with when he thinks about the harrowing day and how SrA Cunningham continued to direct treatment and denying treatment for himself until he was no longer coherent from loss of blood. SrA Cunningham would eventually succumb to his wounds as the leadership far from the battlefield would not risk a fourth MH-47 to go in until after the mountaintop was secure and darkness arrived after sunset.
6. This eyewitness statement regarding SrA Cunninghams actions, in an effort to save the casualties he was treating, followed orders to remain motionless and play dead, even after having been hit twice with devastating effects by enemy fire, then despite his wounds continued to do everything in his power to continue directing life saving efforts while denying some of the treatments to save them for others.

7. These actions absolutely meet, beyond reasonable doubt, the Congressional Medal of Honor criteria of Gallantry and Intrepidity, putting their life at risk in a conflict against an enemy. As such I am requesting you submit a Congressional Inquiry to the United States Air Force to review SrA Jason Cunningham’s Air Force Cross for upgrade to the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Very Respectfully,
Lori Cunningham (Sister)
Larry (Red) Cunningham (Father

01/15/2024

So as Sra Cunningham's sister I'm not exactly sure but according to messages I have received this page is going to be shut down. So if anyone knows why maybe it can be explained because I have received no information from reaching out to Facebook regarding the issue??

09/08/2023

As a gold star sister, I can't not share this story because every word this father speaks is truth. And it is fact that Camp Cunningham is now ran to the ground and taken over by the enemy that took his life...And I have the up most respect for this man just like my own father for his courage and bravery to say the TRUTH...

04/12/2023

This Sunday’s Hero Story…

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Air Force Cross (Posthumously) to Senior Airman Jason Dean Cunningham, United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force while serving as a Pararescueman of the 38th Rescue Squadron, 247th Operations Group, in action near the village of Marzak in the Paktia Province of Afghanistan on 4 March 2002. On that proud day, Airman Cunningham was the primary Air Force Combat Search and Rescue medic assigned to a Quick Reaction Force tasked to recover two American servicemen evading capture in austere terrain occupied by massed Al Qaida and Taliban forces. Shortly before landing, his MH-47E helicopter received accurate rocket-propelled gr***de and small arms fire, severely disabling the aircraft and causing it to crash land. The assault force formed a hasty defense and immediately suffered three fatalities and five critical casualties. Despite effective enemy fire, and at great risk to his own life, Airman Cunningham remained in the burning fuselage of the aircraft in order to treat the wounded. As he moved his patients to a more secure location, mortar rounds began to impact within fifty feet of his position. Disregarding this extreme danger, he continued the movement and exposed himself to enemy fire on seven separate occasions. When the second casualty collection point was also compromised, in a display of uncommon valor and gallantry, Airman Cunningham braved an intense small arms and rocket-propelled gr***de attack while repositioning the critically wounded to a third collection point. Even after he was mortally wounded and quickly deteriorating, he continued to direct patient movement and transferred care to another medic. In the end, his distinct efforts led to the successful delivery of ten gravely wounded Americans to life-saving medical treatment. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, and in the dedication of his service to his country, Senior Airman Cunningham reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Air Force Special Operations Command
Air Force Special Tactics
Pararescue Association | Foundation

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