As we reported Monday, TSgt. Michael Williams received a Bronze Star with Valor last week for his actions while deployed to Afghanistan, his seventh deployment to Southwest Asia. Although he had lost the lower portion of his left leg to an improvised explosive device, the EOD technician conducted a post-blast crater analysis while engaged by insurgent small arms fire, providing critical data on the IED. He also aided his own medical care as his team waited for evacuation and manned his weapon to help protect his team members as they moved toward the helicopter. At the ceremony, Williams said, “I just went back to the training I received and tried to do as best I could to make sure everyone got out of there.” He has been fitted with a prosthetic leg and is able to walk but faces another year of rehabilitation. (Charleston AFB, S.C., report by Trisha Gallaway)
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
