SSgt. Jeremy Pifer of the 87th Civil Engineer Squadron at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., received a Bronze Star Medal July 6 for his actions in Iraq last year as an explosive ordnance disposal team leader. During one route-clearing mission, an engineer vehicle in Pifer’s convoy was struck by an explosively formed projectile that wounded three soldiers inside the vehicle. Pifer cleared the scene of explosive hazards and helped triage the wounded and evacuate them to safety. Col. Gina Grosso, commander of the 87th Air Base Wing, presented Pifer with his medal. (Joint Base photo caption by Carlos Cintron)
President Donald Trump on July 4 signed into law $150 billion in defense funds as part of the tax-and-spending package known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” after congressional Republicans approved the legislation in narrow, drawn-out votes earlier this week.
