The Icemen of the Eielson AFB, Alaska, and airmen and soldiers at Balad AB, Iraq, held memorials for MSgt. Brad A. Clemmons, who was killed Aug. 21 when his convoy vehicle struck an improvised explosive device on the way to Taji, Iraq. Clemmons, who was an explosive ordnance disposal craftsman from the 354th Civil Engineer Squadron at Eielson, had deployed to Balad, where he served as a weapons intelligence flight team leader. The Air Force posthumously awarded Clemmons a Bronze Star. (Read more here from Eielson and here from Balad.)
As the U.S. war with Iran intensifies, the Pentagon is rushing more warplanes to the region, deploying Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons and F-35 Lightning II fighters to the Middle East, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.