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Vandenberg Officials Hold Memorial Service For Fallen Airman
(October 18, 2010) |
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|  VANDENBERG
AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (10/15/2010 - AFNS) -- A memorial
service was held for a fallen Airman Oct. 13, at the Base
Chapel here.
Hundreds of people filled the chapel's pews to pay their
final respects to Senior Airman Daniel Johnson, a 30th Civil
Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal technician who
was killed in action Oct. 5, west of Kandahar, Afghanistan,
by a roadside bomb.
"Dan died not just defending the United States, but also the
entire world against those who use terror to impose their
will upon others," said Col. Richard Boltz, the 30th Space
Wing commander. "He died doing a job he enjoyed and serving
a country he loved so that others may live in peace and
freedom."
Airman Johnson joined the Air Force in November 2006. After
completion of technical training, he was assigned to
Vandenberg AFB in October 2007. Since his enlistment, he has
been deployed twice. He served a seven-month tour of duty in
Iraq in 2009 and was deployed to Afghanistan in August 2010. |
"Dan was the epitome of an EOD tech," said Lt.
Col. Timothy Dodge, the 30th CES commander. "He
was known for his expertise and the training of
others."
Airman Johnson received three medals from the
Afghanistan deployment including the Bronze Star
with valor, the Air Force Combat Action Medal
and the Purple Heart. The medals were presented
to his family during the memorial service.
The medals were earned during an operation in
which Airman Johnson's team met heavy resistance
in the form of victim-operated improvised
explosive devices, arranged in a way to deny
maneuver and defeat enemy forces. Airman Johnson
used mine detection equipment to clear safe |
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Family and friends of Senior Airman Daniel Johnson escort his remains into the First Christian Church Oct. 13, 2010, in Santa Maria, Calif. Airman Johnson, a 30th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight technician, was killed in the line of duty Oct. 5, 2010, in Kandahar, Afghanistan. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luke Thelen |
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approaches and areas. His team engaged and
defeated six improvised explosive devices and
preformed two post-blast analyses, which
provided valuable intelligence. |
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According to the Airman Johnson's Bronze Star citation, "Airman Johnson bravely
approached and cleared an area heavily laden with improvised explosive devices
and was single-handedly responsible for saving the life of an Afghan National
Army soldier who was injured by a concealed booby trap by providing combat
lifesaver care."
"He is an American hero -- one who fought for his country and died for his
country," Colonel Dodge said. "He really made a difference in the lives of
others." | |
By USAF Sr. Airman Steve Bauer
30th Space Wing Public Affairs
Copyright 2010
Reprinted from
Air Force News
Service
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