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U.S. Air Forces Central

There are such things as smiles in warzones

Airman 1st Class Diana Lopez, 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron deployed from Edwards Air Force Base Calif., stays cheerful and happy. She successfully manages to ignore the 70 pound weight of her body armor while patrolling in 90 degree weather. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Susan Tracy)

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No more ribbons, pearls or perfumes

Airman 1st Class Diana Lopez deployed from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., is a warrior. She calmly and confidently mans her M-249 Automatic Rifle, mounted on her vehicle, nicknamed "The Royal Flush," despite the potential threat all around her. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Susan Tracy)

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The things she carried

Ammunition, weapons, dog tags, water, sunscreen and snacks are essential to Airman 1st Class Diana Lopez. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Susan Tracy)

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Protecting the wire

Published July 14, 2009