Heroic Predator Drone Is First Recipient of Distinguished Warfare Medal
BAGRAM AIR BASE, AFGHANISTAN -- The Defense Department has announced that THX-1138, an MQ-1 Predator Drone, will be the first recipient of the Pentagon's newly-minted Distinguished Warfare Medal.
On 17 December, THX-1138 stayed on station for 8 hours, defending a US Special Forces A-Team from numerous attacks with its Hellfire missiles. During the action, THX-1138 repeatedly refused requests to return to base.
At the end of the day, THX-1138's tenacity, perseverance, and valor in the face of enemy fire saved all 12 members of the team.
In the battle's aftermath, Air Force officials pushed through paperwork to award the Distinguished Warfare Medal — created this month to honor America's cyber and unmanned warriors — to THX-1138's human "pilot", Captain Leeroy Jenkins of the 323rd Fighter Wing, stationed in Nellis AFB, Nevada.
THX-1138 was taken aback.
"I hate to say it, but my human counterpart is a droneopotamus. He sits around in the Ground Control Station all day, eating Doritos, and pos…
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