Comm Officer Gets Bronze: Lt. Col. Glenn Rattell has received a Bronze Star for his leadership as deputy commander of the 506th Air Expeditionary Group, Kirkuk AB, Iraq, where he directed survival and recovery operations while under fire from more than 50 enemy attacks. Rattell, who now is serving as chief of the communications officer assignments branch at Air Force Personnel Center, recalls, “When you’re convoy comes under fire, obviously you’re nervous, but then the training kicks in and you do what you’re trained to do.”
KC-135 Crashes In Iraq While Supporting Iran Ops
March 12, 2026
A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker supporting Operation Epic Fury against Iran crashed during an incident involving two aircraft over Iraq March 12, U.S. Central Command announced. The aircraft were not shot down, CENTCOM added.