Five of six New York National Guard soldiers who received French medals in recognition of their rescue of French special operations forces in 2023 stand in formation during an award ceremony in Rochester, N.Y., on Feb. 22, 2026. The soldiers were awarded the French National Defense Gold Medal with Bronze Star. (Jean Sanon/U.S. Army)
Six U.S. soldiers were awarded the French equivalent of Bronze Stars this week for helping to save French commandos who were pinned down in battle against Islamic militants in Iraq.
Members of the New York National Guard, the soldiers were awarded the French National Defense Gold Medal with Bronze Star on Sunday in Rochester for their efforts in the 2023 rescue.
“The operation they were involved in happened in the dark of night,” Maj. Gen. Michel Natali, the New York National Guard’s assistant adjutant general, said in a statement. “The French government did not have to recognize our soldiers, but they went that extra mile.”
The six Guard members, assigned to B Company of the 3rd Battalion, 126th General Support Aviation Battalion, sprang into action in August 2023 to provide rapid aerial support to French special operations forces involved in a firefight near Hawija, Iraq.
Retired Chief Warrant Officer 3 Aaron Taylor, right, receives a French medal from Maj. Gen. Michel Natali, the New York National Guard’s assistant adjutant general, during a ceremony in Rochester, N.Y., on Feb. 22, 2026. Six New York National Guard soldiers who rescued French special operations forces in Iraq in 2023 were awarded the French National Defense Gold Medal with Bronze Star. (Jean Sanon/U.S. Army)
Staff Sgt. Samuel Sacco receives a French medal from Maj. Gen. Michel Natali, the New York National Guard’s assistant adjutant general, during a ceremony in Rochester, N.Y., on Feb. 22, 2026. Six New York National Guard soldiers who came to the aid of French special operations forces during a 2023 mission in Iraq were awarded the French National Defense Gold Medal with Bronze Star by Natali. (Jean Sanon/U.S. Army)
The French unit was conducting a mission against Islamic State militants, the Army statement said.
The U.S. soldiers were on standby at Irbil Air Base when they received word of French casualties and a call for reinforcements and extraction. Two CH-47F Chinook helicopters crewed by the Rochester-based B Company were launched in support, the Army said.
“Within 30 minutes, the aircrews loaded about 30 French commandos to relieve them and flew nearly 70 miles to the objective area, then stayed nearby, ready to provide follow-on support,” the statement said.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Christopher Scott, who served as air mission commander during the operation, said the crew assembled quickly, unsure what would meet them once they arrived.
“The biggest challenge was not knowing the situation on the ground or what support we had until we got on station,” Scott said.
Sgt. Jedediah Estrada, a door gunner during the mission, said the recognition from the French military brought back memories of Sgt. Nicolas Mazier, a French paratrooper who was killed in combat during the firefight.
“Being honored by the French government is a way for me to continue honoring his legacy, not just what our unit was able to do, but what we accomplished together with our partner force,” Estrada said in the statement. “It really brings together why we were there and what we were working to defeat.”
The other soldiers who received medals are: