However you may feel about the American military, where they are, and how they're being used, out of all the horror and waste of combat extraordinary things sometimes take place that deserve acknowledgement. The Air Force Cross is one way recognition is given. On December 17, Master Sgt. Ivan Ruiz, a pararescueman deployed with the 22nd Expeditionary Special Tactics Squadron, was awarded the U.S. military’s second highest decoration for an airman. Here's a few excerpts from the press release.
While moving through several compounds after infiltrating enemy territory with his special operations forces counterparts, Ruiz and two U.S. Army Special Forces teammates became separated from the main friendly element. They were immediately confronted by four insurgents in a point-blank engagement. Ruiz and his teammates quickly killed the enemy, but suddenly became trapped in a courtyard by vicious and intense insurgent crossfire.
...The two soldiers were immediately wounded by the enemy’s barrage of heavy gunfire and grenades, rendering them immobile and exposed. According to the medal citation, Ruiz sprinted through the waves of gunfire with complete disregard for his own personal safety to defend his teammates in their exposed position.
Ruiz was forced to fight lying flat on the ground due to grenades exploding around him, some only 15 feet from his position. He continued to return fire at multiple enemy locations to prevent enemy fighters from maneuvering toward his teammates.
...Refusing to take cover or leave his wounded teammates exposed to potentially fatal shots, Ruiz continued to fight the enemy alone in the courtyard until reinforcements arrived. Once they did, he advanced again through a hail of gunfire, dragged his teammates to a nearby position of concealment and immediately administered life-saving trauma care. Due to the lack of light, Ruiz had to use night vision goggles to administer the care.
There are photos, quotes from Ruiz, and more at the link. It's worth remembering that even with forces being drawn down and disengagement the goal, there are still people out there in harm's way. To go into all of the ways this country owes people like him for his actions under fire would take more space than I care to devote at this time. He set a high standard; the appropriate response would be for this country to attempt to meet it with commensurate actions.