Captain Kyle Bair, a pen pal of Miss Thurin’s class at PG, has returned from a year’s tour of duty in Iraq. He visited their classroom last Friday and presented them with this Bronze Star Medal with a "V" device. It is a wartime award that is given to soldiers that conduct a valor act or a type of heroism.

On Nov 25, 2008, MSG Anthony Davis was conducting a humanitarian operation (food and school supply drop) in the town of Biaj (within the Ninewah Province, Northern Iraq). While supervising the offload of food off the trucks, the gates were closed to the compound. The enemy opened fire on the group offloading and MSG Davis was killed along with another Marine. MSG Davis saved the life of his team chief who was a Major by shielding him. This was an act of gallantry during a hostile act and therefore he was honored with this award.

MSG Davis was in the same division in Iraq as Captain Bair. The original was given to his wife and four children. This medal was a duplicate of MSG Davis’ award and was given to Captain Bair who kept it in Iraq with him. Captain Bair would like to present it to our class for support of soldiers in 3rd Iraq Army Division Mitt (Military Transition Team). It is a very special and touching honor.