MSgt. James Nelson of the 33rd Operations Group at Eglin AFB, Fla., has received a Bronze Star medal, Eglin officials announced Wednesday. Nelson was recognized for his meritorious service during a recent deployment to Joint Base Balad, Iraq. He has been assigned to the group’s intelligence flight since 2005. (Eglin photo caption by Samuel King Jr.)
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.

