Airman killed, another injured Jan. 3 in Afghanistan

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MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. (AFNS) --  An Airman assigned to the 10th Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Riley, Kan., was killed and another injured while supporting combat operations in southern Afghanistan Jan. 3.

Senior Airman Bradley R. Smith, 24, of Troy, Ill., died of wounds sustained from the explosion of an improvised explosive device during an attack on his unit near Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.

Airman Smith is survived by his parents, Gary and Paula Smith, wife Tiffany, and daughter Chloe Lynn.

Injured was Senior Airman Michael J. Malarsie, 22, of Bosque Farms, N.M. He was treated at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, before being transferred to the Landstuhl Area Regional Medical Center, Germany, where he was listed as in stable condition.

"The loss of Senior Airman Smith is devastating to the squadron, as are the injuries to Senior Airman Malarsie," said Lt. Col. Roy Fatur, commander, 10th ASOS. "Both are without question standout battlefield Airmen, and standouts in the squadron. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones."

Airman Smith joined the Air Force in December 2006 and arrived at Fort Riley in January of 2009.

Airman Malarsie has been a member of the Air Force since May 2007 and has been stationed at Fort Riley since December 2007.