Mississippi State University mascot Jak, and handler Lisa Pritchard (right), visit a pair of war heroes and MSU grads, Lt. Col. Richard "Gene" Smith (left) and World War II Bronze Star recipient Howard Miskelly, at the plaza on Columbus Air Force Base named in Smith's honor. Smith, a CAFB wingman, spent more than five years as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam conflict. Miskelly served in the Army's 406th Infantry Regiment, 102nd Infantry Division in the European theater during World War II.