By Alabama Public Radio
Tirana, Albania – An Alabama soldier and eight others who were killed nearly two months ago in a plane crash have received a posthumous honor. Twenty-two-year-old First Lieutenant Ray Owens Junior of Birmingham was killed when his transport plane crashed in the mountains of southern Albania on March 31st. It happened during a joint night military exercise. Albanian President Alfred Moisiu (MOY'-shoo) awarded the soldiers the Medal of Gratitude. He cited their loss of lives in the service of military cooperation between Albania and the United States.