Portraits in Courage: Griego, Hardin, Fonck

Paralegal Tech Sgt. Austin Hardin, along with fuels specialist Master Sgt. Dominick Griego and operations truck commander Staff Sgt. Mechele Fonck, were struck by a massive car bomb on Oct. 18, 2013, while traveling in two vehicles from Kabul International Airport to Camp Phoenix in Afghanistan.

Hardin, Griego and Fonck quickly regained consciousness and held off the ambush long enough to regroup in the surviving, but badly damaged, vehicle and escape to Camp Phoenix.

All three received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, and Griego also received a Combat Action Medal.

They also are among 24 airmen honored for heroism in the Air Force's latest Portraits in Courage volume.

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