Fort Bragg airman awarded rare second Silver Star

Master Sgt. Thomas Case is one of just three Air Force members to earn two of the medals, which are given for valor.

"I don’t think I won anything,” he said. “I think it was just recognition for doing your job.”

Case doesn't consider himself a hero, although his actions on July 2009 were definitely heroic.

While on a mountainous battlefield in Afghanistan, Case risked his life several times to help save his fellow soldiers. He exposed himself to enemy fire, fixed a broken radio and called in fire from supporting aircraft. He also shot dead two highly skilled foreign fighters.

The citation was read in front of his peers and family inside a packed hanger at Pope Army Airfield.

“Well, your first thought is, ‘What were you thinking?’ But then after, you read it again, and you swell up with pride,” said Glenn Case, Thomas’ father.

Thomas Case recalls the moment as just another day at work.

“You wake up, you get the mission, and you go do it,” he said.

The Silver Star is the military's third-highest award. Case earned it the first time for similar combat actions in 2003.