HONOREE:
Zachary Rhyner
BRANCH:
Air Force
GAME:
Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Green Bay Packers and WPS Health Insurance paid special tribute to U.S. Air Force Tech Sergeant Zachary Rhyner, of Medford, Wis., during the Packers-Steelers game for Operation Fan Mail.
In 2013, Zachary was a combat controller in the Air Force and was responsible for coordinating air strikes and other air-to-ground assets for special operations forces teams. He was stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, and has been deployed six times, including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as a humanitarian assistance operation in Haiti.
In addition to two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star, Zachary received the Air Force Cross for his actions in the Battle of Shok Valley during the War in Afghanistan. He was the first living, and second ever, combat controller to receive the Air Force Cross, which is second only to the Medal of Honor for heroism in combat. He was injured in his most recent deployment, suffering nerve damage and shattering his hip, and was recovering.
Zachary attended the game with his mother, Sue, his father, Paul, and his brother, Luke.
