Silver Star Award

U.S. Air Force 23rd Special Tactics Squadron Airmen shake hands with Col. Curt Van De Walle, commander of 1 Special Operations Mission Support Group, and other attendees during an award ceremony at King Auditorium, Hurlburt Field, Fla., Jan. 18, 2012. More than 40 awards were given to the 23rd STS Airmen for their actions while serving in support of overseas contingency operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christopher Williams)(Released)

Scott D. Sather Memorial Unveiling

Pararescuemen, combat controllers and Pararescue Indoctrination Course trainees perform ???memorial push-ups??? during the memorial unveiling ceremony honoring Staff Sgt. Scott D. Sather, Jan. 20, 2012, Medina Annex, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. Sather was the United States Air Force???s first combat casualty during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sather???s memorial was created and displayed by Civil Engineers in Iraq to honor his leadership and bravery. His memorial was then transported to Lackland AFB, Texas in March 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Marleah Miller)

Scott D. Sather Memorial Unveiling

Melanie Sather, spouse of Staff Sgt. Scott D. Sather, and a family member pay their respect at the unveiling of Sgt. Sather???s memorial, Jan. 20, 2012, Medina Annex, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The 12,000 pound memorial was sea-lifted from Iraq to Lackland, AFB, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Marleah Miller)

SSgt Scott Sather Memorial Unveiling

Staff Sgt. Dale Young, 342nd Training Squadron combat controller, bows his head in reflection during a memorial unveiling for Staff Sgt. Scott D. Sather, Jan. 20, 2012, Medina Annex, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. Sather was the United States Air Force?s first combat casualty during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The memorial, honoring Sather?s leadership and bravery, was sea-lifted from Sather Air Base, Baghdad, Iraq, to Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Colville McFee)

On a mission

An AC-130U Gunship flies a local training mission Jan. 27, 2011, over Hurlburt Field, Fla. The Gunship is the primary weapon of Air Force Special Operations Command, and its primary missions are close-air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance. The Gunship is assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock)

Resting water

An Airman dips his body in water to clean off dirt and grass during Air Force Pararescuemen Indoctrination "Hell Week" Course on Sept. 6, 2011, at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. During "Hell Week," Airmen simulate a real-world mission that could involve air, ground and water survival. Airmen must complete 62 weeks of training in addition to military basic training to become an Air Force pararescueman. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Vernon Young Jr.)