The Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol last week recognized one of its oldest members—CAP Lt. Col. Benjamin Stone—with the CAP Distinguished Service Medal. The CAP also promoted the 93-year-old airman to full colonel. Stone, who has been part of CAP since March 1944 and is considered a founding member, taught many CAP members to fly during World War II on weekends away from his job training Navy aviators.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
