Staff Sgt. Robert W. Willging, a combat controller

Staff Sgt. Robert W. Willging, a combat controller for the 123rd Airlift Special Tactics Squadron, is pinned with the Bronze Star Medal by Col. David Mounkes, commander of the 123rd Airlift Wing, during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Nov. 17, 2018. Willging distinguished himself while engaged against an opposing armed force in July 2017 by displaying disregard for his own personal safety and exposing himself to hostile fire in order to coordinate and control close air support in defense of pinned-down assault elements caught in an ambush. Willging’s performance directly contributed to 81 enemies killed in action, 30 enemies wounded in action, multiple fighting positions destroyed and his team’s overall success and survival, according to the citation. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua Horton)