It’s not every airman who receives a Bronze Star with Valor, much less one presented by a former Air Force Chief of Staff, but SrA. Bren Mejia received his award from retired Gen. John Jumper during a Warrior Call at Holloman AFB, N.M., on Oct. 30, according to an Nov. 5 release. Mejia, with the 49th Civil Engineer Squadron at Holloman, where Jumper was on a two-day visit, received the Bronze Star for his “heroic actions” (no specifics provided in the release) while deployed to Afghanistan. He also received a Purple Heart. (Holloman report by A1C Sondra Escutia)
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.