18th Wing commander presented Order of the Rising Sun
Japan Air Self Defense Force Lt. Gen. Yoshiyuki Sugiyama, commander, Southwestern Composite Air Division & Okinawa Area coordinator at Naha Air Base, presents the Order of the Rising Sun (Kyokujitsu-sho in Japanese) to Brig. Gen. Matt Molloy, 18th Wing commander, at Naha AB, Japan, May 9, 2013. This prestigious award was originally established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji and was the first national decoration awarded by the Government of Japan. The order is awarded to those who have made distinguished achievements in international relations, promotion of the Japanese culture, and advancements in their field. (U.S. Air Force photo by Naoto Anazawa/Released)