[SandRat]

Russian Ambassador Yuri Ushakov presents U.S. Air Force Major Patrick Poon with the highest honor awarded to non-Russian citizens, the Friendship Medal, at the Russian Embassy in Washington on Feb. 28. Poon and U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Steven Smith were presented the medals for their actions in the rescue of a Russian submarine crew on Aug. 7, 2005, in waters off the country's Kamchatka peninsula. Photo by Staff Sgt. D. Myles Cullen, USAF

U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Steven Smith speaks to the audience of both American and Russian citizens after he was presented the Order of Friendship Medal by Russian Ambassador Yuri Ushakov at the Russian Embassy in Washington Feb. 28. Smith and U.S. Air Force Maj. Patrick Poon were both presented the medals for their actions in the rescue of a Russian submarine crew on Aug. 7, 2005, in waters off the country's Kamchatka peninsula. Photo by Staff Sgt. D. Myles Cullen, USAF

[A.A. Cunningham]

ORDER OF FRIENDSHIP – The Order of Friendship Medal is the highest honor awarded to non-Russian-citizens. It was presented to U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Steven Smith and U.S. Air Force Maj. Patrick Poon at the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C., Feb. 28, 2006. The officers were recognized for their actions associated with the rescue of the Russian submarine crew on Aug. 7, 2005. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. D. Myles Cullen

[vigilante2]

BTTT

[Rebelbase]

The Cold War is but a distant memory.

[Triggerhippie]

Heh..heheheh..heh...he said, "Poon."

[csvset]

Fwiw, here's this pic.

U.S. Navy Submarine Rescue Chambers Flyaway System (SRCFS) is loaded on board an U.S. Air Force C-17.

[Cecily]

This picture reminds me a little of the scene in the movie "Patton" in which General Patton is smiling at a Russian military officer and calling him nasty names in English.

[wolfpat]

I'm glad the Russians got over their paranoia. That's what cost the brave seamen on the Kursk their lives.

[Former Military Chick]

Excellent thread, thanks for posting.