The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Colonel Michael A. Longoria, United States Air Force, for heroism as Mission Commander for a prisoner movement team, while engaged in ground operations against an enemy of the United States at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, and other classified locations within Pakistan, from 20 December 2001 to 10 January 2002. 

During this period, Colonel Longoria displayed remarkable courage in the face of constant sniper fire, hostile local populations and escaped al-Qaeda fighters near the vicinity of Parachinar, 45 miles southwest of Peshawar. He directed joint forces in the assessment and selection of an airfield and then accompanied Pakistani officials to various prisoner locations. 

During a prisoner reconnaissance patrol, Colonel Longoria and a Pakistani escort team came under intense fire from a group of escaped al-Qaeda and Taliban forces halting the Pakistani ground convoy in an open position in the Nararai Village Valley. 

Colonel Longoria helped Pakistani soldiers return fire killing at least two enemy snipers and secured four escaping prisoners with flex cuffs to an overturned bus while awaiting assistance from other Pakistani officials. Exposed to constant enemy sniper fire, he continued to assist in moving wounded government and prisoner casualties from the hostile area. 

In subsequent missions, he helped secure all 48 escaped prisoners to a new location and affected the transfer of the first 25 most hostile prisoners recaptured following the loss of over 17 Pakistani government officials and prisoners in the bloodiest escape and firefight in Pakistan during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. 

By his heroic actions and unselfish dedication to duty, Colonel Longoria has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.