CIA civilian Gary Powers, infamously shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960 in a U-2, will be posthumously awarded a Silver Star by the US Air Force.

The Air Force determined that the U-2 pilot showed “steadfast loyalty” while under harsh interrogation in Soviet prisons… [citing] his “sustained courage” and gallantry despite “cajolery, trickery, insults and threats of death.”

Issues of classification and political strain kept Powers from any official award during his lifetime.  In fact, Powers, who flew in a combined CIA-Air Force effort, was only awarded a military POW medal and a CIA director’s medal in 2000.

Without detracting from Powers’ ordeal in captivity, it brings up an interesting question:  If the RQ-170 Sentinel currently held in Iran is ever released, will it get an award?  They may have to figure out how much it talked first…