Roy Bowden, now a civilian air conditioning mechanic with the 78th Civil Engineer Squadron at Robins AFB, Ga., on Aug. 21 received a Bronze Star Medal for his service in leading combat convoy patrols in Iraq from May 2005 to May 2006 as a sergeant in the Georgia Army National Guard’s 48th Brigade. Bowden did not realize that he had earned the honor until February of this year when he was looking at his military record to get information for his job application at Robins. The Army Secretary had awarded him the medal in November 2007. (Robins report by Wayne Crenshaw)
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.