Migration News
Europe briefs: Sub commander reassigned; crash being investigated
January 22, 2005
Colin, 7, Travis, 5, and Addie Blair, 4, children of Capt. Joe Blair, 81st Fighter Squadron A-10 pilot, wave flags in anticipation of three A-10s, which arrived Thursday at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, after being deployed for more than four months to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. The majority of the mission was providing close-air support and escorting various Army and ground force elements. More members of the unit are expected to arrive in the coming days. (Eydie Sakura / U.S. Air Force)
WASHINGTON — The Navy has reassigned the commander of an attack submarine that ran aground Jan. 8 in the western Pacific Ocean, officials said Thursday.
Cmdr. Kevin Mooney, who commanded the USS San Francisco, was reassigned to a unit in Guam pending the completion of the investigation into the crash, a statement from the U.S. 7th Fleet said. Vice Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, the fleet’s commander, ordered Mooney’s removal from command.
Air Force officer killed in car accident
BUDOIA, Italy — A U.S. Air Force officer assigned to the 31st Contracting Squadron was killed Friday morning in a single-vehicle accident southwest of Aviano Air Base.
Second Lt. Donyal V. Brooks was pronounced dead at the scene by a coroner from a hospital in Udine, according to Italian officials. She was driving on the mountain highway just outside of Budoia at about 9 a.m. when the accident occurred. There were no passengers in the vehicle.
The accident is under investigation.
Tyndall airman receives medal
A 325th Medical Group member from Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., received the Airman’s Medal during a ceremony at the base this month.
Airman 1st Class Matthew Bolado, a 325th Aeromedical-Dental Squadron aerospace physiology technician, earned the medal for saving three swimmers from drowning off of Tyndall Beach in May 2003, according to an Air Force release.
Brig. Gen. Jack Egginton, 325th Fighter Wing commander, presented Bolado the medal on Jan. 5.
Bolado, 21, said his mother was his inspiration for diving into the ocean to save people that day.
“My mom always told me to help others in need, so I didn’t even hesitate to help,” Bolado said, according to the release. Bolado’s mother, Lesley Duppe, lives near Homburg, Germany.
Bolado pulled one man to shore who initially tried to help two drowning teenagers but fell victim himself to the strong current and riptide. Bolado then swam more than 100 yards to help rescue the teenagers, the release said.