ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Staff Sgt. Robbin Bailon, U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds assistant flight equipment, places the Thunderbird patch on Army Sgt. Dan Elliott here Oct. 6 before his Hometown Hero Flight. The Thunderbirds flew Sgt. Elliott in the back seat of an F-16 Falcon over Andersen AFB and the island of Guam. The Thunderbirds are scheduled to perform in an air show over Andersen AFB Oct. 7. The air show is a free event and open to the public. The main gate will open at noon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Courtney Witt)

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ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Staff Sgt. Robbin Bailon, U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds assistant flight equipment,and Staff Sgt. Kristi Machado, Thunderbirds Aerial Photographer, fits Army Sgt. Dan Elliott with life support gear before his Hometown Hero Flight Oct. 6. The Thunderbirds flew Sgt. Elliott in the back seat of an F-16 Falcon over Andersen AFB and the island of Guam. The Thunderbirds are scheduled to perform in an air show over Andersen AFB Oct. 7. The air show is a free event and open to the public. The main gate will open at noon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Courtney Witt)

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ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Brig. Gen. Phil Ruhlman, 36th Wing commander, thanks Army Sgt. Dan Elliott here Oct. 6 for his service in the Guam Army National Guard and for his heroism during his deployment in Afghanistan May 2008. The Thunderbirds flew Sgt. Elliott in the back seat of an F-16 Falcon over Andersen AFB and the island of Guam. The Thunderbirds are scheduled to perform an airs how over Andersen AFB Oct. 7. The air show is a free event and open to the public. The main gate will open at noon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Courtney Witt)

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ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - U.S. Air Force Aerial Demonstration Squadron Pilot Lt. Col. Derek Routt presents Army Sgt. Dan Elliott with a token of appreciation here Oct. 6 for his service in the Guam Army National Guard and for his heroism during his deployment in Afghanistan May 2008. The Thunderbirds flew Sgt. Elliott in the back seat of an F-16 Falcon over Andersen AFB and the island of Guam. The Thunderbirds are scheduled to perform an air show over Andersen AFB Oct. 7. The air show is a free event and open to the public. The main gate will open at noon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Courtney Witt)

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ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Army Sgt. Dan Elliott thanks crew members of the U.S. Air Force Aerial Demonstration Squadron here Oct. 6 for allowing him to fly over Andersen AFB and the island of Guam. The flight was awarded to Sgt. Elliott as part of the Thunderbirds' Hometown Heroes program. The Thunderbirds are scheduled to perform an air show over Andersen AFB Oct. 7. The air show is a free event and open to the public. The main gate will open at noon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Courtney Witt)

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USAF Thunderbirds recognize hometown hero

Published Oct. 6, 2009
36th Wing Public Affairs

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the service's premier F-16 demonstration team, treated a local hero to an incentive flight on an F-16 Falcon as part of the team's Hometown Heroes program Oct. 6.

U.S. Army Sgt. Daniel Elliott, an Alpha Company fire team leader for Guam Army National Guard's 1/294th Infantry Regiment and Sinajana, Guam, resident, was selected for this honor for lifesaving actions conducted during his deployment.

While on patrol searching for a damaged military vehicle, then Private 1st Class Elliott's Mine Resistant Armor Protected vehicle, or MRAP, struck an improvised explosive device May 2008. As the passengers evacuated the damaged vehicle, Sergeant Elliott discovered the driver and truck commander were trapped in the main cab.

He responded quickly, pulling the two team members from the vehicle as ammunition began cooking off. His actions resulted in all soldiers evacuating the vehicle without injury or incident.

Sergeant Elliott also received a Purple Heart for wounds received in action during a separate incident on July 17, 2008.

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