Happy birthday to us Published Sept. 18, 2002 OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (AFPN) -- Airman 1st Class Conner Maher (left) and Col. Gregory Ihde cut cakes at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, in celebration of the Air Force's 55th birthday Sept. 18. Maher, 20, is deployed with the 822nd Expeditionary Security Forces Group from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Traditionally, as the most junior airman at Bagram, he was selected to participate in the ceremony with Ihde, the senior Air Force officer here. Ihde is dual-hatted as director of the Air Component Coordination Element for Combined Joint Task Force 180, and is commander of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing. In the background is special guest Army Brig. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, CJTF 180 director of staff. (Photo by Senior Airman Tina Rivera)