Fallen Airmen, Soldiers honored at Aviano

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Kim Schaerdel
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (AFPN) --  Aviano Air Base officials held a memorial service Nov. 15 to honor the lives of four Airmen and two Soldiers who were killed when an Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter attached to the 1st Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment here crashed Nov. 8.

Friends and family members gathered to pay their respects and celebrate the lives of Capt. Cartize B. Durham, Staff Sgt. Robert D. Rogers, Staff Sgt. Mark A. Spence and Senior Airman Kenneth P. Hauprich Jr., all assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing, and Capt. Christian P. Skoglund and Chief Warrant Officer David Angelo F. Alvarez, both assigned to 1st Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment.

Gen. William T. Hobbins, the U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley, and Brig. Gen. Craig A. Franklin, the 31st Fighter Wing commander, were among the many to express their gratitude to the fallen servicemembers and their families for all they have given to their country.

"These six men were proud members of our nation's military; our Army, our Air Force," General Franklin said. "The past few days have been tough, but our lost loved ones and friends did not die in vain. They honorably served their country, and that will never be forgotten."

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