Camp Eggers officials dedicate building to fallen Airman

  • Published
  • By Navy Seaman Timothy Newborn
  • Camp Eggers Public Affairs
CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan (AFPN) --  Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and civilians dedicated the Gillespie House to honor a fallen Airman March 2 at Camp Eggers. 

Master Sgt. Randy Gillespie, an embedded training team senior mentor with the Afghan national army 207th Corps, died July 9, 2007, from fatal wounds sustained from small arms fire.

The fuels specialist assigned to Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., was deployed to Camp Zafar, Afghanistan. 

The 44-year-old Colorado Springs, Colo., native joined the Air Force in 1983.
Gillespie filled more than eight different mission-critical assignments during his career, including Lajes Field, Azores, where he was recognized as the 1999 Fuels Flight Noncommissioned Officer Professional Provider of the Year. 

During his last assignment at Luke AFB, Sergeant Gillespie and his crew were named the Best Fuels Management Flight in the Air Force for 2005. 

"As you can see, Master Sergeant Gillespie lived the Air Force core value of service before self," said Army Maj. Gen. Robert Cone, the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan commanding general. "His fellow Airmen have described him in a word as 'awesome, a professional in every sense of the word.' He took incredible pride in mentoring Afghan national army personnel." 

A plaque displaying Sergeant Gillespie's biography, accomplishments and names of his family members will adorn the new Gillespie House, which is living quarters for servicemembers stationed at Camp Eggers. He earned a collection of awards including the Bronze Star posthumously, Purple Heart and the Air Force Combat Action Medal. 

General Cone read a letter from Gillespie's widow, Lisa Gillespie, who wrote, "He truly was a special man ... and I so very much appreciate the remembrances and the tributes you are putting in place for him." 

"Randy was a very nice, approachable guy. He definitely had an impact beyond his rank," said Col. Frank Heinsohn, who trained alongside Gillespie at Fort Riley, Kan., while preparing for his recent deployment. 

"He will be remembered for his service to his country and his contributions to a democratic Afghanistan," General Cone said. 

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