MSgt. Cary Miller of the Kentucky Air National Guard flew into the Hindu Kush Mountains in Afghanistan to aid in the rescue of a Special Forces crew from a downed Army CH-47 helicopter surrounded by hostiles. Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, head of the National Guard Bureau, who was introducing a couple of Guardsmen to Senators last week, said that Miller, an ANG pararescueman, “fought for seven hours,” calling in close air support “as close as 50 feet away.” Blum noted that for Miller’s “bravery, his concern for his fellow man, his leadership, his courage under fire” resulted in his receiving the Silver Star.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.