US Air Force Airman First Class Kacey Ruiz of McDonough GA
According to the Department of Defense they have confirmed that Airman First class Kcey E. Ruiz age 21 of McDonough died when a C-130J Air Force Super Hercules aircraft crashed October 2nd just after taking off at Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan.
Ruiz graduated from Dutchtown High School in Henry County in 2012. She enlisted in the U.S. Air Force shortly after graduating high school.
Air force Officials said that she was stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts along with Senior Airman Nathan Sartain, 29, of Pensacola, Florida.
The other four airmen killed were Senior Airman Quinn Johnson-Harris, 21, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Staff Sgt. Ryan Hammond of Moundsville, West Virginia, Capt. Jordan Pierson, 28, of Abilene, Texas and Capt. Jonathan Golen, 33, of Camarillo, California.
Five civilian contractors and two Afghanistan civilians were also killed in this crash.
WKEU’s Bill Taylor said that the hearts of our community go out to Airman First Class Ruiz family. For me and all retirees of the Armed Services the loss of service members serving in harms way is especially hard. I ask everyone to say a special prayer for all those that were killed in the crash in Afghanistan and their families, for they are the true heroes of our Nation and special treasures that have given their all for each of us. .