SSgt. Timothy Davis, who was killed by a bomb Feb. 20 in Afghanistan, was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star Medal March 1. According to an Associated Press report (via the Bellingham Herald), Davis’s wife Meagan was presented with the medal during a ceremony in the high school in Montesano, Wash., where he graduated in 1999. The 28-year-old Davis, born in nearby Aberdeen, was a member of the elite 23rd Special Tactics Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla. He died near Bagram of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. At least 80 of Davis’ special tactics colleagues were in attendance, according to AP. Davis also received a posthumous Purple Heart at the ceremony.
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.