During his first trip to Southwest Asia, Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne awarded the Bronze Star to Lt. Col. Ed O’Neal for his actions during a terrorist attack in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, on May 29, 2004. O’Neal helped rescue a family trapped in a burning apartment and aided Saudi security forces in their efforts to locate the terrorists. O’Neal was a military training advisor at the time. He is back in SWA as the US Central Command Air Forces forward personnel and manpower director.
The U.S. military conducted strikes on Iranian targets around the Strait of Hormuz on May 7, as the conflict with Iran flared up again—though officials say the ceasefire remains in effect.