The Pentagon on Monday said that A1C Eric M. Barnes, 20, of Lorain, Ohio, had been killed following an improvised explosive device attack on an Air Force convoy on June 10 about 100 miles south of Baghdad. Barnes, who had deployed to Iraq from the 90th Logistics Readiness Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., was the second airman to be killed in Iraq last week. We reported in yesterday’s column that an IED attack killed SrA. William N. Newman on June 7. New information from Hickam AFB, Hawaii, states that explosive ordnance specialist Newman died while attempting to defuse an IED.
Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich assumed command of U.S. European Command on July 1, taking over the key assignment as the U.S. and its allies contend with a resurgent Russia and a grinding war in Ukraine.