A U.S. Air Force C-130J transport plane crashed shortly after takeoff at an air base in eastern Afghanistan, killing six U.S. airmen. Five civilian contractors also died in the tragic accident. They were part of NATO's Resolute Support mission. Two Afghan civilians were killed when the aircraft hit the guard tower by the airstrip.
I Got The News Today (IGTNT) is one of the oldest continuous series on Daily Kos. It is a way for our community to pay respect to those who have died as a result of war.
The U.S. Air Force personnel who died in the awful crash on October 2nd, 2015 were:
• Captain Jonathan J. Golden who was from California
• Captain Jordan B. Pierson who was from Texas
• Staff Sgt. Ryan D. Hammond who was from West Virginia
• Senior Airman Quinn L. Johnson-Harris who was from Wisconsin
• Senior Airman Nathan C. Sartain who was from Florida
• Airman 1st Class Kcey E. Ruiz who was from Georgia
The first four were assigned to the 39th Airlift Squadron, based at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. The other two were assigned to the 66th Security Forces Squadron and were based at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts.
Flags were lowered to half-staff Saturday, October 3rd, at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, as U.S. troops paused to remember and honor the six who were killed. Many were friends and the military family of those lost.
Captain Jonathan J. Golden - tribute written by TrueBlueMajority
sources: KABC-TV, KNBC-TV, Los Angeles Times, WMUR-TV, Ventura County Star, Vallejo Times-Herald Online
Air Force Capt. Jonathan J. Golden grew up in Camarillo, CA. The youngest of three brothers, he was known as JJ to his family and friends.
As a boy, JJ dreamed of soaring through the clouds as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. He graduated from Camarillo High School in 1999.
He was assigned to the 39th Airlift Squadron, based at Dyess Air Force Base near Abilene, Texas. He served six tours in Iraq, and between deployments he studied to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautics. Relatives describe him as "humble" and "the backbone of the family."
Jeff Golden was last in contact with his brother on Sept. 25, when JJ sent a text message to check in with him on the one year anniversary of Jeff Golden's wife's death. "I'm gonna miss those selfless text messages," Jeff said. All my little brother wanted to do was help people. He got the opportunity with the air force to take his ultimate goal and fly, but at the same time fight for our freedom."
Golden was the pilot of the C-130J transport plane when it went down at the Jalalabad Airfield in eastern Afghanistan. This is not thought to be the result of enemy fire despite Taliban claims to the contrary. "With high confidence, it does not appear at this time that enemy fire was involved in the aircraft crash," said Maj. Tony Wickman, a U.S. military spokesman, in an emailed statement to CNN. The crash remains under investigation.
President Obama issued this statement: "As we mark this terrible loss of life, we are reminded of the sacrifice brave Americans and our Afghan partners make each and every day in the name of freedom and security. Their willingness to serve so selflessly will not be forgotten."
JJ Golden is survived by his mother Gloria, his father George, his brothers Robby and Jeff, his wife Danielle, and his two children, 1-year-old Elijah and 3-year-old Lilian.
JJ Golden and his wife Danielle
"He died doing what he loved to do, serving his country," his father George said. "That's what he wanted to do." His mother said she and the rest of the family are now calling her late son "The Golden Hero".
Captain Jonathan J. Golden was 33 years old.
Captain Jordan B. Pierson - tribute written by SisTwo & Spam Nunn
Jordan B. Pierson was from Abilene, Texas. He was serving an assignment with the 39th Airlift Squadron, which is based at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. Pierson, and his fellow airmen from Dyess, were serving on a four-month rotation to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.
Last year, Captain Pierson appeared in
a video about Dyess Air Force Base. When he was asked what he likes about his job, his reply was:
"It would be air drops. Its kind of the bread and butter of our mission. I enjoy just the crew coordination. Its a more challenging mission than just flying around,"
Pierson was a 2005 graduate of Coronado High. He enjoyed playing football while still in school. Later, he graduated from the Air Force Academy in Colorado.
Shana Martin is a teacher at Hart’s Bluff. She said the school will be honoring her brother-in-law in a ceremony honoring military service men and women and veterans this week at the HBISD campus Freedom Garden. She said the family would be attending a memorial service at the air force base in Abilene Thursday afternoon. Ministering Our Military (M.O.M.s) will be honoring the family and the fallen soldier in a ceremony to be announced later, according to Martin.
She said her brother-in-law had been in Mount Pleasant two or three weeks ago for a visit before he left for his second deployment to Afghanistan.
“After he graduated high school, he attended the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado,” she said. “I will say he just loved what he did and I’ve said this before: I don’t think he would have traded his pilot wings for angel wings any other way.
http://myinforms.com/...
The Jalalabad air field is about 80 miles from Afghanistan's capital, Kabul. Pierson was one of the pilots for a C-130J Hercules transport plane that took off from that location soon after midnight local Afghan time on October 2nd. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft experienced problems and crashed into the guard tower at the airstrip. The entire crew of the plane and two civilians in the guard tower were killed. The Air Force is investigating the cause of the accident.
Jordan Pierson and his wife, Jaime, in happier times
Captain Jordan B. Pierson was 28 years old when he died, and among those he leaves behind are his wife, Jaime, his parents and siblings.
Staff Sergeant Ryan D. Hammond - tribute written by SisTwo
The son of Dave and Kathy Hammond, Ryan D. Hammond was a 2007 graduate of John Marshall High School in Glen Dale, West Virginia.
According to an article in the local West Virginia paper,
The Intelligencer, Donnie Gilbert Sr., a Marshall County resident said Hammond's death was a loss to the entire community:
"I've known Ryan since his freshman year of high school and the news was unbelievable," Gilbert said. "You wouldn't meet a nicer guy. When he was home from the service he always made a point to say hello"
Gilbert's son, Donnie Gilbert Jr., said the two were inseparable during high school and kept in touch weekly until his death.
"We played sports together and made sure we scheduled all our classes the same. His wife called me (Friday) morning right after it happened. I was shocked and devastated," Gilbert Jr. said. "He was fun and crazy. Anyone that knew Ryan had a good time around him; smiling and good times describe Ryan in a nutshell."
Gilbert Jr. added Hammond will always be remembered in the Moundsville community.
"He was not only a member of the military, but a compassionate, good man," Gilbert Jr. said. "His actions were for the country and our community. He's a local hero."
Staff Sergeant Hammond was assigned to Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. He was living in Texas with his wife, Holly, but was serving in Afghanistan at the time of his death. He was 26 years old.
During his four-month rotation to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, Hammond helped to transport cargo and personnel. He was one of the six-person crew in a C-130J Super Hercules that crashed shortly after takeoff from Jalalabad Airfield in eastern Afghanistan. Five civilian contractors aboard the aircraft also were killed, as were two Afghan civilians in a guard tower when the aircraft hit it. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
A statement from U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, a Glen Dale native, said Hammond's death is a devastating loss and...
...a stark reminder of the sacrifices our brave military men and women make to keep our country safe. I am heartbroken by this tragedy and offer my deepest sympathy and prayers to Ryan's family and to all of the families of those killed. Their bravery and service to this nation will not be forgotten."
Ryan Hammond, in happier times
Among those who survive Staff Sergeant Ryan Hammond, to mourn his death, are his parents and his wife, Holly.
Senior Airman Quinn L. Johnson-Harris - tribute written by Joy of Fishes
“He beat by his own drum”
The Department of Defense has identified Airforce Senior Airman Quinn Johnson-Harris as one of the six airmen who died on October 2, 2015 in the crash of a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft at Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan. The airmen were supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel.
Senior Airman Johnson-Harris was 21, and he had been in the Air Force for two and a half years. He and three of the other six airmen who died were assigned to the 39th Airlift Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. They were serving as part of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing and were on a four-month rotation to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. This was Johnson-Harris's first tour in Afghanistan, and he had been there a month before he died.
Sgt. Calvin Freeman, Johnson-Harris’s instructor at Dyess Air Force Base, recalled him as a guy who made everyone laugh and smile, but also a quick study and always one step ahead in training. "He was the heart of the squadron. He was the best of us," said Freeman.
Commanders at Dyess AFB praised the airmen who had been killed:
We are all mourning the loss of these incredible young men, but no one more than those who lost their loved ones. These airmen were our friends and our family, and the halls of the group and the skies overhead will never be the same without them. Though they are no longer with us, the memories of those whose lives they touched will remain forever. ~ Col. Stephen Hodge, 317th Airlift Group commander
I speak on behalf of all of Team Dyess when I say our heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of all who lost loved ones. The greatest asset that the Air Force has is not a plane or a piece of equipment. It is our Airmen and those who support them. We are using all means available to support and comfort those families, friends and brothers and sisters in arms who are affected by this tragic loss. ~ Col. Michael Bob Starr, 7th Bomb Wing commander
Senior Airman Johnson-Harris was from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and he graduated from Homestead High School in Mequon, where he played football. His former coach, David Keel, recalled a selfless, hard-hitting running back who was an excellent choice for the Air Force. Keel recalled Johnson-Harris visiting after joining he Air Force, saying he "came back one day in his Air Force uniform, and he could not have been more proud to be wearing the red, white and blue of the United States."
Joining the military was a tradition in Senior Airman Johnson-Harris’s family. His grandfather served in Vietnam, his oldest brother was a U.S. Marine, another brother is a 2015 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and is now in the U.S. Army. Quinn "was the baby of the bunch," said his mother, "He had to follow in the footsteps of his siblings. He wanted to do his part, serve his obligation to the country."
Quinn’s mother and sister also spoke to WDJT about him, with smiles through their tears: “Quinn was the heart beat of our family, for sure. Nobody could ever get down, Quinn was always there. He always wanted to make everybody proud,” said Quinn’s mother.
His sister added, “He loved everybody, and that shows you that he doesn't care if you're this, if you're that, you know? He loves everyone."
"Quinn, I remember he was in school, he said ‘mom, check me out,’ he had gave his little Chihuahua a pink mohawk, and he had a pink mohawk for Halloween. He said ‘I'm different mom, and it's okay.’” She added, "Quinn dared to be different. He beat by his own drum."
Quinn Johnson-Harris attends his brother's graduation from West Point
Senior Airman Johnson-Harris is survived by his mother, Yvette Harris; his father, Lamar Harris; and his siblings, Fatia Johnson-Harris, Lamar Johnson-Harris, Jeremy Johnson, and Christopher Schaffer.
Sources - DoD, Stars & Stripes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WDJT Milwaukee, and San Angelo Standard Times
Senior Airman Nathan C. Sartain - tribute written by Ekaterin
Senior Airman Nathan C. Sartain and Airman 1st Class Kcey Ruiz, both stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, MA, were remembered as young leaders nominated for early promotion, by 66th Security Forces Squadron Commander Maj. Joseph Bincarousky.
Sartain and Ruiz were with the 66th Security Forces Squadron and the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing in Afghanistan, which regularly deploys to assist with security operations around the globe, according to the base. They were about four months into a six month deployment.
A Pensacola native, Airman Sartain has planned a military career since high school. At Pensacola High School he was an honor student who stayed committed to the Air Force Junior ROTC program all four years of high school. He was a decorated member of the organization, having twice been named an outstanding cadet. He graduated from high school in 2004.
According to his former classmate, James Poindexter:
“He was outgoing, always laughed and joked... he was almost, like, the life of the party at times.When you were having a bad day, he’d always say something funny. He was a well liked...He loved his country and being in ROTC...This community is going to miss a great guy, a guy who was funny, well liked, had lots of friends and loved his country.”
Master Sgt. Jackie Carnley, an instructor in the ROTC program, said he had the privilege of working with Sartain for one year after joining the staff at PHS and remembered him as a talented student:
“He was an outstanding cadet. He excelled in ROTC and went on to excel in the military.”
The high school has planned a memorial tribute in honor of Airman Sartain.
Airman Sartain and his wife Lana were married in 2013.
Maj. Joseph Bincarousky, commander of the 66th Security Forces Squadron, said of Spartain and Ruiz:
"These airmen were rock stars. Their enthusiasm and dedication inspired peers and unit leadership alike. This is the type of young Airman the Air Force needs more of; their absence is palpable."
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.
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Airman 1st Class Kcey E. Ruiz - tribute written by JaxDem
The daughter of two Marines, Kcey Ruiz enlisted in the Air Force just weeks after her 2012 graduation from Dutchtown High School in Henry County, Georgia. Pursuing her dream to study nursing, Ruiz excelled in her duties and performance, causing her superiors to take notice.
Commander Major Joseph Bincarousky, of the 66th Security Forces Squadron, Hanscom Air Force Base expressed the highest praise for Airman First Class Ruiz and her colleague, Senior Airman Nathan C. Sartain, remembering them both as
“rock stars,” young leaders nominated for early promotion.
In April Kcey's father, Michael Ruiz visited his daughter in Boston just before she deployed.
"I didn't say goodbye, I didn't want to say goodbye. I just told her I would see her later and I never got that chance."
Ruiz' mother, Kyhia Ruiz is brokenhearted:
“Even though I worried about her, Kcey was always trying to shield me. She was not only my protector, she was my hero. And I love and miss her so much.”
Father, Michael Ruiz added:
"She's just the type of person who always did the right thing. "She had a high level of integrity, and she was just good to people. My child cared. Kcey cared about everyone and for everyone. My heart will never be complete again.”
During her time at Hanscom Air Base, Kcey met and fell in love with fellow airman, Randy Hodgson. Randy, who has been in touch with Kcey's family recalled the woman who stole his heart as "
a beautiful soul, who had the brightest smile and most honest heart".
We’re both Catholic and very religious. And when we talked that last time I told her to just try to be safe, do your job and come back home to me. Then, I gave her the cross I wore around my neck and I told her, ‘Kcey, if things get rough, just hold on tight to that cross and pray.’ ”
Speaking about the impact Airman First Class Ruiz had on her fellow airmen at Hansom Air Force Base, Airman Hodgson said:
“Everyone knew Kcey and everyone loved her. When she was on duty at the front gate, her smile … well, it just lit up the whole place. You just had to smile whenever she looked at you. I’m telling you, sir, that smile would brighten your whole day.
Like me, Kcey joined because she believed that serving your country is an honorable thing to do.”
Airman Hodgson and Airman First Class Ruiz
On Monday Maj. Sarah Beavers, Air Force JROTC Department Chair at Dutchtown High School set up a memorial to Airman 1st Class Kcey E. Ruiz in the JROTC wing of the school where students and teachers alike paid tribute to the fallen former student and Henry County Schools issued the following statement:
“Each and every student who comes to Henry County Schools, no matter the amount of time spent in our district, is an individual on which we hope to make a positive impression. Oftentimes these students are able to give back so much more, as was the example of Airman 1st Class Kcey through her selfless act of serving our country. We hope her memory is a positive reminder to all of our county, state, and nation that service to others, no matter the capacity, is something to be revered. Her legacy will echo for years to come. Our sincere condolences go out to her family and comrades.”
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
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About the IGTNT series:
”I Got the News Today” is a diary series intended to honor, respect, and remember the fallen, and to remind us that each casualty has family and friends who received the terrible news that their loved one has died. US service members whose names have been released by the US Department of Defense will usually be diarized two days after the official announcement on the DoD website. This allows the IGTNT team to cover each person more fully, but still in a timely manner. Click the IGTNT tag below to see previous diaries in the series, which was begun by i dunno, and is maintained by i dunno, Sandy on Signal, Monkeybiz, Noweasels, Blue Jersey Mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, SisTwo, Spam Nunn, True Blue Majority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, maggiejean, Jax Dem, The Fat Lady Sings, Ekaterin, & Joy of Fishes. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but show our community’s respect for those who have died.
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Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members mentioned here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.