Gen. Mike Holmes, commander, Air Combat Command, presents

Gen. Mike Holmes, commander, Air Combat Command, presents retired Air Force Lt. Col. Gregory Thornton with the Silver Star medal during a ceremony at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, June 30, 2017. Thornton received the Silver Star for his actions on April 6, 2003 while supporting ‘Advance 33,’ the call sign for a ground forward air controller attached to Task Force 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor, during combat operations in Iraq. The Silver Star is the third-highest combat decoration for gallantry in action that can be awarded to a member of the United States Armed Forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Wesley Farnsworth)