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ALS class remembers fallen brother

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman David Salanitri
  • Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD Fla. --  Airmen from the Airman 1st Class John C. Vincent Airman Leadership School participated in a moment of silence on April 18 in recognition of the death of the individual the school was named after.

Airmen from ALS class 11E lowered the flag to half staff in observance of the 15-year anniversary of Airman Vincent's death.

Airman Vincent, a crew chief with the 16th Aircraft Generation Squadron, was killed by a rogue lightning strike while on duty.

Airman Vincent was training on an AC-130H when a lightning warning was issued. He returned to work after the warning had been lifted but a stray bolt landed in the proximity of Airman Vincent, sending 10 other Airmen off their feet. Airman Vincent died as a result of a heart attack from the electric current.

"Airman Vincent was looking forward to the chance to attend Airman Leadership School," said Master Sgt. Paola West, ALS commandant. "He's been described as a superstar and someone who loved what he did."

While Team Hurlburt has lost numerous Airmen in overseas contingency operations, this is considered to be the first causality on the installation.

ALS Class 11E was the first class to recognize this day in ALS history.

"We haven't had a memorial for Airman Vincent in recent times," said Sergeant West. "As I did my research on Airman Vincent, this story hit home. His daughter is about to graduate from high school, and his widow was very moved to hear that her husband hasn't been forgotten about."