SSgt. Howie Loughran, an explosive ordnance disposal airmen assigned to the 31st Civil Engineer Squadron at Aviano AB, Italy, received a Bronze Star for his leadership during deployment to Iraq. His team diffused more than 80 improvised explosive devices and destroyed more than 50,000 pieces of ordnance.
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…