The Air Force has awarded Bronze Star medals to two airmen with the 81st Transportation Squadron at Keesler AFB, Miss. for their actions in Southwest Asia. TSgt. Patrick Key served as a convoy commander and squad leader in Iraq, where he led 11 missions, comprising 143 military and 208 foreign drivers who covered 13,000 miles in hostile areas. His efforts were crucial to delivery of more than 5,610 tons of supplies, equipment, and ammunition to 10 forward operating bases in the midst of insurgent fighting. TSgt. John Smith also served as a convoy commander and squad leader, completing 31 convoy missions that delivered 2.4 tons of materiel to coalition forces in Afghanistan. His responses to improvised explosive device attacks aided transport of wounded and helped direct fire at attackers.
NATO Scrambles Fighter in Newest Response to Russian Drones
Sept. 16, 2025
NATO scrambled its first fighter Sept. 13 under its new plan to bolster its defenses against Russian air incursions that was put into place after an array of Russian drones flew into Polish airspace last week, the officials from the alliance’s military command said.
