Major to Be First Air National Guard Flight Nurse Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross

An officer with the Minnesota National Guard is set to be awarded the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism during the collapse of Afghanistan when U.S. troops worked frantically to evacuate as many allies as possible as the Taliban took over the country.

Maj. Katie Lunning, who is assigned to the 133rd Airlift Wing, will be presented with the award Saturday, according to a press release from the National Guard. She'll be the second nurse ever to have earned the award and the first in the National Guard.