More than 300 people attended a memorial ceremony April 1 for the first Airman from Sather Air Base killed in combat while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Tech. Sgt. Walter Moss, 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight technician, was killed in an explosion while he was conducting safing operations near Baghdad March 29.

Sergeant Moss had been deployed to Sather AB since January from the 366th CES, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. During his time in Iraq, EOD responded to more than 200 calls in the Baghdad vicinity without incident. Every successful call meant Sergeant Moss potentially saved a life.

“In this war, you are a major point of the tip of the spear,” said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Jim Browning, 447th Air Expeditionary Group chaplain. “No doubt, many owe their lives because of your professional persistence.”

A musician opened the memorial playing “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes. Capt. Stephanie Root, Sergeant Moss’ officer in charge, read handwritten messages his fellow EOD technicians had written about him. One emphasized the challenge all EOD Airmen face.

“People who have never taken that long and lonely walk down to safe an (improvised explosive device) or a roadside bomb will never come to fathom how it feels,” said Master Sgt. J.T. Thrower, 447th ECES EOD flight. “He was willing to take that long and lonely walk so others will continue to live.”

After Captain Root finished reading, Senior Master Sgt. Dale Moser, EOD superintendent, conducted a “final roll call,” saying each of the EOD team members’ names. They responded, “Here, senior master sergeant.” When Sergeant Moser called for Sergeant Moss, there was silence.

EOD detonated an explosive device in a field behind the audience as a final EOD salute, and a bugler played Taps.