2/22/2011 - LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Members from here are in mourning, base officials said Feb. 22, after Department of Defense officials announced the death of an Airman stationed here.
Airman 1st Class Corey Owens, a 26-year-old installation patrolman assigned to the 47th SFS, was pronounced dead due to non-combat related injuries Feb. 17. Airman Owens, a native of San Antonio, was assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing while deployed to Iraq.
The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing is the most forward-deployed Air Force wing in Iraq and has units at a number of different bases in Iraq.
"The Laughlin (Air Force Base) community is devastated by the loss of (Airman Owens)," said Col. Michael Frankel, the 47th Flying Training Wing commander. "He stepped up to serve his nation in a time of war and deployed when he was asked. There is nothing more honorable for an Airman."
Colonel Frankel said he already had been touched by an outpouring of concern from the Del Rio, Texas, community.
"This area's support for its military is really something special," he said.
Airman Owens joined the Air Force in 2008, and his only permanent duty station was Laughlin AFB. He was on his second deployment at the time of his death.
