The Air Force has awarded Bronze Star medals to four airmen for their actions supporting the war on terror. MSgt. Darrin Goetchius, now a maintenance supervisor at Nellis AFB, Nev., served as a combat aviation advisor, training Iraqi forces on Mi-17, UH-1P, and Bell JetRanger helicopters. TSgt. Michael McKenna and SSgt. Kevin Krooner, both Tactical Air Control Party airmen with the 8th Air Support Operations Squadron at Aviano AB, Italy, received Bronze Stars for their service with the US Army in Afghanistan. (Nellis report by 2nd Lt. Jen Richard; McKenna photo release; Krooner photo release)
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.
