Airmen, Soldiers honor fallen comrade

  • Published
  • By Capt. Toni Tones
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) --  Airmen and Soldiers from Bagram Air Base honored an Airman who paid the ultimate sacrifice for his country during a memorial ceremony May 1 here.

Senior Airman Jonathan A.V. Yelner, a convoy driver assigned to the Kapisa and Parwan Provincial Reconstruction Team, died of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device April 29 near Tag Ab in the Kapisa Province of Afghanistan.

Airman Yelner, a B-1B Lancer weapons load crew member assigned to the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., volunteered to deploy and serve as a Humvee driver for the Army as part of a PRT whose missions are security, reconstruction and governance for Afghanistan.

"(Airman Yelner was) a young, but mature man who understood that freedom is not free, and wanted to make a difference however he could ... a warrior who understood the risks inherent in the ground combat environment, yet raised his hand volunteering to serve in that crucible," said Lt. Col. Bill Andersen, the Kapisa and Parwan PRT commander.

"His mother and father relayed to me that Jonathan was 'thrilled to be with you guys' and considered it an honor to be a member of the Provincial Reconstruction Team. Let me tell you the honor was mine and the PRT's to have Jonathan on this team. His contributions were many, varied and made a difference," Colonel Andersen said.

Army 1st Sgt. Felipe Richards remembered meeting Airman Yelner for the first time when the team came together for training earlier this year at Fort Bragg, N.C.

"He was a young, smart, vibrant and full-of-life person who brought a smile to my face. He once asked me what I would take away from this experience since I have deployed several times," Sergeant Richards said. "I told him it was simple -- 'changing lives' and he said, like 'making a difference.' So that became our motto -- 'Making a difference beyond the Berm.' You (Jonathan) can be truly proud of the difference you made and we will continue the mission."

Army Capt. Casey McCausland, the Kapisa South Civil Affairs Team leader echoed those comments.

"(Airman) Yelner strongly believed in what were doing down at (Forward Operating Base) Kutschbach, and he loved going out on missions and making a difference," Captain McCausland said. "(Airman) Yelner never thought twice about going out. We even gave him the opportunity to not go on some missions, but he would look at us like we were crazy and insist that he was going. (Airman) Yelner was a warrior and will be greatly missed by many."

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