RAF Mildenhall, England — A 25-year-old airman based in the United Kingdom who was found dead in a Texas barracks on Saturday was a “happy-go-lucky kind of guy,” according to family and friends.
Airman 1st Class Noah A. Radde, 25, was found dead Saturday inside the barracks at Lackland Air Force Base, according to the 100th Air Refueling Wing public affair’s office.
Radde was assigned to the 100th Security Forces at RAF Mildenhall since September 2005, said 1st Lt. Jamie Humphries.
People close to Radde mourned his death this week.
Andrew Lein graduated one year behind Radde at Norwood Young America High School, which is about 40 miles west of Minneapolis.
“He was the kind of guy who put all of his friends in front of himself,” Lein said in a telephone interview. “Whenever he called, he wanted to know how you were doing, what you were up to.”
A former coach described Radde as an affable, outgoing young man.
“He was always a happy-go- lucky kind of guy,” said Jason Kuerschner, who coached Radde’s town baseball team. “He knew he was not the best athlete in the world, but he always came out and had fun with the guys.”
Kuerschner, who said he attended church last Sunday with members of Radde’s family, said the airman was in Texas to have some kind of surgery two to three weeks ago.
Lackland Air Force Base is home to Wilford Hall Medical Center, which is the Air Force’s largest medical facility.
Wilford Hall Medical Center spokeswoman Sue Campbell directed all questions on Radde’s death to Lackland Air Force Base public affair’s office. Lackland Air Force Base public affairs said the Office of Special Investigations is conducting a probe into his death.
A spokesman from the OSI public affairs office at Andrews Air Force Base said the office could not release any information concerning an open investigation.
Lein said that funeral arrangements had not been completed in Minnesota. The 100th’s public affairs office said it was unaware of any memorial service planned for Radde at Mildenhall.
