Retired Col. James Kasler, who received three Air Force Cross medals for his actions during the Vietnam War, has received another honor from the town of Momence, Ill., where he now lives. The town dedicated the Kasler-Momence Veterans Park during a ceremony Sept. 15. Maj. Karl Lewis reports that a crowd of more than 300 people gathered to honor Kasler, who began his service career as a B-29 gunner and went on to become an ace flying F-86s in the Korean War. He flew F-105s during the Vietnam War and survived six and one-half years as a POW. The ceremony included a fly-over by four Air Force Reserve Command F-16s. According to Kasler, “There’s nothing more glamorous than to be a jet fighter pilot in the United States Air Force.”
Pentagon Releases Cost of Living, BAH Rates for 2026
Dec. 30, 2025
The Pentagon will pay cost of living allowances to 127,000 service members in the continental U.S. in 2026, an increase of 66,000 members in 2025. Airmen and Guardians across the U.S. will also receive an average increase of 4.2 percent for their Basic Housing Allowance, compared to the 5.4 percent…
