The remains of Sgt. Robert Stinson, who died in September 1944 at age 23 when his B-24 Liberator bomber was shot down in the Western Pacific, were returned to his family on Wednesday, ending 65 years of separation. The Sun of San Bernardino reported Wednesday that a military honor guard accompanied Stinson’s casket on its flight from Hawaii to the airport in Ontario, Calif., where two of his brothers, along with other family members, were waiting to welcome him home. His burial is set for Friday in nearby Riverside. Stinson’s aircraft was found underwater in 2004 near the island of Palau by the volunteer BentProp Project. His remains were identified two years later using DNA. (For more, read Associated Press’ Oct.28 report.)
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.