KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — The Kadena community gathered Wednesday to remember Airman 1st Class Derek Kozorosky, who was killed on base Friday evening in a vehicle accident.

Kozorosky was assigned to the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron and was on duty at a fire station when the incident occurred. He was taken to U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa on Camp Lester where he died, the Air Force said. According to The Tribune-Democrat in Johnstown, Pa., Kozorosky’s father, David, said military officials told the family that his son had been helping train newer firemen when he was struck by a tanker that was backing up.

On Wednesday, a procession led by a bagpiper and military color guard traveled down Douglas Blvd. — lined by saluting servicemembers and civilians — to Chapel 1, for a memorial service.

“He wanted to be a fireman and an EMT (emergency medical technician), and the Air Force had the best training for that,” David Kozorosky said, according to the Tribune-Democrat. “He loved the Air Force.”

From staff reports

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