A local Army pilot has earned one of the nation's highest military honors for saving more than three dozen of his fellow troops during violent combat in Afghanistan. Captain Matthew Kaplan, a 2001 graduate of Lakota West High School, has been awarded the distinguished Flying Cross for what the Army calls tremendous valor, tactical skill, and leadership ... actions which directly saved the lives of 37 U.S. soldiers.

Matt Kaplan's father served in Vietnam, his grandfather was at Guadalcanal in World War Two, and Matt's parents could tell that, even at a young age, Matt wanted to be in the military. It's not unusual for a mom to have pictures of her son on the office wall or on her computer. But not every mom has pictures of a son who has won the distinguished Flying Cross for bravery in combat.

Kaplan is a helicopter pilot. Last October, he was stationed in Afghanistan and ended up leading a rescue support mission at what a British journalist described as one of the most dangerous places in the war
Combat outpost Keating was overrun by Taliban insurgents on October 3rd. Captain Kaplan gave up his fully operational helicopter to another crew, and flew a damaged aircraft to the rescue, frequently putting his chopper between enemy fire and other helicopters evacuating American soldiers.

Knowing he didn't have a fully functional helicopter or weapons system, Captain Kaplan flew in and saved 37 lives.

Well Done Captain Kaplan !