In every war and during every deployment there is the risk that one of our fellow servicemen may become wounded or killed. That risk has become even more clear to me.
A fellow member of my Public Affairs career field was killed Monday near Bayji, Iraq, when the Iraqi Army Mi-17 helicopter he was flying on crashed - killing all 7 aboard. Staff Sgt. Chris Frost, a PA from Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico was 24 when he died.
Chris was nearing the end of a 6 month tour in Iraq - he was to go home in just three weeks. Ours is a tiny career field - there are less than a few hundred of us who perform this mission (officer and enlisted) and are a tight-knit group. The loss of a tremendous PA will be felt through tout our entire field.
He will return to his home in Wisconsin early this morning to be laid to rest. The wonderful men and women of the Patriot Guard will be on hand from the time he arrives until after his funeral to ensure that he and his family receive only the deepest of respect.
I ask that tonight, and every night, you keep Chris, his two children, and all of men and women who are defending our nation in your thoughts and prayers. With the constant amount of deployments we're facing, my fear is that our being far from home and in harm's way will become "the norm..." and the loss of a great Airmen should never seem normal.
A fellow member of my Public Affairs career field was killed Monday near Bayji, Iraq, when the Iraqi Army Mi-17 helicopter he was flying on crashed - killing all 7 aboard. Staff Sgt. Chris Frost, a PA from Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico was 24 when he died.
Chris was nearing the end of a 6 month tour in Iraq - he was to go home in just three weeks. Ours is a tiny career field - there are less than a few hundred of us who perform this mission (officer and enlisted) and are a tight-knit group. The loss of a tremendous PA will be felt through tout our entire field.
He will return to his home in Wisconsin early this morning to be laid to rest. The wonderful men and women of the Patriot Guard will be on hand from the time he arrives until after his funeral to ensure that he and his family receive only the deepest of respect.
I ask that tonight, and every night, you keep Chris, his two children, and all of men and women who are defending our nation in your thoughts and prayers. With the constant amount of deployments we're facing, my fear is that our being far from home and in harm's way will become "the norm..." and the loss of a great Airmen should never seem normal.
2 comments:
I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of SSgt Frost. I cry when I hear the news of the loss of each and every one of our soldiers -- they deserve our tears and so much more, and I wish you could all come home where you belong.
Mom
This is great info to know.
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