Veterans Day Reflections

Tomorrow (Saturday) is Veterans Day, but many will observe it today.  Two days instead of one seems appropriate. 

Given the emphasis of this blog on weather, we take a few moments today to reflect on the sacrifice made by Air Force Captain Nathan Nylander. 

Captain Nathan Nylander.  Source: http://www.airadvisormemorial.org/home/Nylander.html

Captain Nylander was a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Weather Observer and Weather Forecaster courses.  He was the 56th Operational Support Squadron Forecaster of the Year in 1999 and 2000.  In 2006, he graduated #1 in his class at Officer Training School.  He was a leader in meteorological services in the Air Force and a friend to Air Force officers who have come to the University of Utah to pursue graduate degrees in atmospheric sciences.

Captain Nylander was killed in Afhanistan on April 27, 2011, when an Afghan colonel opened fire at the Afghan Air Force Headquarters at Kabul International Airport.  During the attack, Captain Nylander evacuated the conference room he and others occupied, returned fire, and, began treating the wounded.  When the attacker began to fire again, Captain Nylander returned fire again, but was ultimately killed.

Captain Nylander received the Silver Star, the third highest honor for combat valor, on September 24, 2011.

On this Veterans Day, take a few moments to learn more about Captain Nylander in this article from the Air Force Air Combat Command web site and this Air Advisor Memorial.