The Air Force has awarded a Bronze Star Medal with Valor to SrA. Phillip King, assigned to the 95th Security Forces Squadron at Edwards AFB, Calif. During a year-long deployment to Afghanistan in 2006, King was part of a convoy going to aid Afghan forces in repelling a Taliban attack when his convoy came under attack from rocket propelled grenades and machine guns, reports A1C Julius Delos Reyes. King positioned his vehicle to cover his teammates and fired back, and even after an RPG left him with a concussion, he got up and directed Afghan forces, which finally stopped the main attack. As he led his team away, he discovered another ambush site, where more Afghan soldiers were pinned down; he worked to get them away to safety. At a rally point, King faced enemy fire as he marked the friendly position to aid close air support. There were no coalition casualties.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
