The Pentagon released the names of two military and one civilian members of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations killed in Iraq Nov. 1. The special agents were: MSgt. Thomas A. Crowell, 36, of Neosho, Mo.; SSgt. David A. Wieger, 28, of North Huntingdon, Pa.; and Nathan J. Schuldheiss, 27, of Newport, R.I. An AFOSI release states that they died of wounds from an improvised explosive device during operations near Balad Air Base. The three deployed to Balad from three different stateside bases: Crowell from Scott AFB, Ill.; Wieger from Travis AFB, Calif.; and Schuldheiss from Offutt AFB, Neb.
The Guardians of the 11th Space Warning Squadron were honored as the top U.S. Space Force unit for 2024 for their role in thwarting Iranian missile barrages last year.