The Defense Department’s new valor website now includes the names of all recipients of service crosses since 9/11, announced Pentagon officials on Aug. 1. In the case of the Air Force, the website now lists the five airmen who have received the Air Force Cross, the service’s second highest military decoration, during that span. They are: Capt. Barry Crawford, TSgt. John Chapman, SSgt. Robert Gutierrez, SrA. Jason Cunningham, and SrA. Zachary Rhyner. The Pentagon launched the valor website on July 25 to honor actual award recipients and dissuade fakers after the Supreme Court’s ruling in June that struck down the Stolen Valor Act. That law had made it illegal to falsely claim being a recipient of a top military decoration. The website will eventually list all service members who have received the Medal of Honor, service crosses, or Silver Star medal since 9/11.
Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd III met with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss bolstering defense ties on May 2. The discussion included plans for joint F-35 exercises with Japan and Australia in the coming years.