Air Force officials name Sijan award winners

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RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  Air Force officials here recently recognized four Airmen with the service's 2008 Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award.

The Sijan award annually recognizes Airmen who demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities.

The senior officer category winner is Maj. James Hughes Jr., who is assigned to Bolling Air Force Base, D.C.

The junior officer category winner is Capt. Thomas Eckel, who is assigned to Eglin AFB, Fla.

The senior enlisted category winner is Senior Master Sgt. Michael Bobbitt, who is assigned to Yokota Air Base, Japan.

The junior enlisted category winner is Tech. Sgt. Scott Woodring, who is assigned to Robins AFB, Ga.

The Lance P. Sijan award was first given in 1981. It was named in honor of the first U.S. Air Force Academy graduate to receive the Medal of Honor. Captain Sijan was shot down over Vietnam on Nov. 9, 1967, and evaded capture for 45 days despite severe injuries. He later died while in a Vietnamese prisoner-of-war camp and was presented the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroism.

The awards will be presented to this year's recipients at a later date.