CMSgt. James Lucas, 48th Fighter Wing command chief at RAF Lakenheath, Britain, received a Bronze Star Medal for his actions during a deployment to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, as superintendent of the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group. Col. Jay Silveria, 48th FW commander, awarded Lucas the medal during a July 27 ceremony. Lucas was recognized for his accomplishments in helping the expeditionary group receive, train, equip, deploy, and redeploy 1,500 combat airmen, the group’s largest rotation to date, and for his participation in outside-the-wire combat vehicle and foot patrols. “I feel very privileged and honored,” said Lucas of the award. He added, “I have never been more proud of my service or to be an airman, than in the company of the people I was working with.” (Lakenheath report by SrA. Kristopher Levasseur)
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.
