Honoring fallen officers

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Chiyanna L. White
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  National Police Week is recognized annually to pay tribute to officers nationwide who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

This week, the men and women of the 341st Security Forces Group will honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice during their service. Below are the names of Air Force defenders who have fallen in combat since 1998:

Tech. Sgt. Robert Butler (1998, Edwards AFB, California),

Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Jacobson (2005, Camp Bucca, Iraq),

Staff Sgt. Brian McElroy (2006, Taji, Iraq),

Tech. Sgt. Jason Norton (2006, Taji, Iraq),

Airman 1st Class Leebernard Chavis (2006, Baghdad, Iraq),

Staff Sgt. John Self (2007, Baghdad, Iraq),

Airman 1st Class Jason Nathan (2007, Camp Speicher, Iraq),

Staff Sgt. Travis Griffin (2008, Baghdad, Iraq),

First Lieutenant Joseph Helton (2009, Baghdad, Iraq),

Senior Airman Nicholas Alden (2011, Frankfurt International Airport, Germany),

Staff Sgt. Todd Lobraico (2013, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan),

Airman 1st Class Kcey Ruiz (2015, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan),

Senior Airman Nathan Sartainn (2015, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan),

Tech. Sgt. Joseph Lemm (2015, Bagram Air Field Afghanistan),

Staff Sgt. Louis Bonacasa (2015, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan)

“Police week will look different this year, because typically it is designed with an event every day to bring people together and memorialize,” said Master Sgt. William Blado, 341st Missile Security Operations Squadron tactical response force flight chief. “With social distancing still in effect, it goes against the very purpose of Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week, but we have still found ways to commemorate this week.”

Below is a link to the Officer Down Memorial Page, a site remembering all of law enforcement’s heroes. https://www.odmp.org/