Purple Heart
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah - - Danielle Balmer (Special Agent Balmer's widow) accepts a Purple Heart from Brig. Gen Dana A. Simmons, Air Force Office of Special Investigations commander, during a memorial tribute for Tech. Sgt. (Special Agent) Ryan A. Balmer, from the AFOSI Detachment 113 at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Agent Balmer was killed Tuesday in Kirkuk, Iraq, by an improvised explosive device that detonated near his convoy. Agent Balmer is the fourth casualty from Hill AFB since Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom began. Hundreds attended a 1 p.m. memorial tribute June 8, at Hangar 37 today. Photo by Alex Lloyd