The Measure of an Airman

Former Senior Airman Brian Kolfage, a Security Forces Airman, holds his wife, Ashley on his lap as they look out over the water on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Sept. 9. Kolfage was one of the first Airmen deployed to Iraq in 2003 at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During a routine trip to the chow hall, a mortar flew over the walls of his camp and landed less than 10 feet in front of him. Kolfage barely escaped with his life and is the most injured and surviving Airman from any war. Photo by Senior Airman Lauren R. Main.

Photographer Senior Airman Main earned third place in the "Illustrative Photography" category with this photo in the 2011 Military Photographer of the Year awards. Many thanks to John Donovan for sharing this.