MSgt. Cary Miller of the Kentucky Air National Guard flew into the Hindu Kush Mountains in Afghanistan to aid in the rescue of a Special Forces crew from a downed Army CH-47 helicopter surrounded by hostiles. Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, head of the National Guard Bureau, who was introducing a couple of Guardsmen to Senators last week, said that Miller, an ANG pararescueman, “fought for seven hours,” calling in close air support “as close as 50 feet away.” Blum noted that for Miller’s “bravery, his concern for his fellow man, his leadership, his courage under fire” resulted in his receiving the Silver Star.
Boeing received a $2.47 billion Air Force contract Nov. 25 for 15 more KC-46s, bringing to 183 the number of Pegasus tankers on contract to all customers, foreign and domestic. The new contract—for Lot 12 of the initially planned KC-46 buy—is to be completed by 2029.



