The Defense Department confirmed that TSgt. Joey D. Link, 29, of Portland, Tenn., died of natural causes on Aug. 5 at a military hospital in Germany. Link was assigned to the 39th Airlift Squadron at Dyess AFB, Tex., but he died during a deployment to Southwest Asia.
Dozens of fighter jets gathered at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida last week to kick off one of the service’s biggest air combat exercises despite the government shutdown. More than 50 aircraft and 500 personnel are participating in Checkered Flag 26-1.

