ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
Brig. Gen. Dana Simmons, Air Force Office of Special Investigations
commander, presided over a memorial ceremony for the Air Force Office
of Special Investigations Hall of Heroes on May 13.
The ceremony honored five agents lost during actions in Operation
Iraqi Freedom in the past year. Special Agents Ryan Balmer, Matthew
Kuglics, Thomas Crowell, Nathan Schuldheiss and David Wieger were
added to the hall in recognition of their ultimate sacrifices.
Families and friends of all the agents attended the ceremony which
began with a pre-reception for the families at the Air Force
Conference Center then moved to the Andrews Community Activities
Center.
Also in attendance was Brig. Gen. Robin Rand, former commander of the
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Balad Air Base, Iraq. General Rand was
the commander in Iraq during the time when Special Agents Balmer and
Kuglics were killed.
"All of our Airmen serving in Iraq are important and all are in the
business of saving American lives while defeating the enemy, but no
Air Force Airman is doing more to win the war on terror than an Airman
for OSI -- you are simply our premiere warfighters," said General
Rand.
General Simmons highlighted the military tradition of memorializing
those who have fallen and citing the incredible accomplishments of
these stellar agents.
"Having memorials is important. It's important for us all to remember
everyday what the cost of our conflicts - what the true human cost of
freedom - freedom that we enjoy everyday and take for granted truly
is," said General Simmons.
The ceremony then moved to the Headquarters AFOSI rotunda where
General Simmons presided over the official unveiling of portraits of
each of the agents. Honor Guard members assisted family members in the
official hanging of each portrait in the Hall of Heroes located in the
second floor of the base headquarters building.
The families were escorted through the Hall and given the Hall's
history by General Simmons. He made a point to tell each family that
they will forever "own" a piece of the wall and are welcomed to visit
any time they wish.
Families were also given full-size copies of the portraits. A post
reception was held in the HQ AFOSI rotunda area giving all families
and AFOSI personnel a chance to visit and remember the fallen heroes.
All of the fallen Special Agents' biographies can be found at the
AFOSI public Web site at: http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/library/fallenagents.asp