An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

23rd gathers to say goodbye

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Stephanie Holcombe
  • Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla --  A memorial service was held here Aug. 25 to honor a combat controller killed in combat in Afghanistan less than a week ago.

Senior Airman Adam P. Servais, 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, was assigned to a special forces operational detachment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom when he was killed by enemy fire in the Oruzgan Province Aug. 19.

Freedom Hangar, where the memorial was held, was a sea of scarlet berets as members of the special tactics community gathered to pay their respects for their fallen brother.

"Adam loved what he did," said Col. Marc Stratton, 720th Special Tactics Group commander. "Adam died performing his duties as the combat controller, returning fire, while controlling air support overhead."

Airman Servais earned his reputation as a controller early. Although he was less than a year out of special tactics training, he was hand-picked to serve as the joint terminal attack controller for the elite special operations team.

"He was lethal in the battlefield and his actions saved his teammates lives," said Lt. Col. Eric Ray, 23rd STS commander. "His courage in the face of the enemy was an example of Adam's strength."

Tech. Sgt. Brad Reilly, a fellow combat controller and noncommissioned officer in charge of the Blue Team in the 23rd STS, honored Airman Servais by reading excerpts of e-mails from those who served with him while deployed, summing it up with his own thoughts.

"We understand, absolutely, the risks involved in what we do, and we accept them," he said. "We focus on doing our best work in the worst of scenarios.

"In my world, actions speak louder than words. I truly believe that Adam Servais would want us to hear the story of his actions engaged in ground combat against enemies of the United States. He would want us to stand a little bit taller, taking great pride in the fact that he did not go gently, that he fought hard and true until the very end. He would want no pity, no sympathy and would laugh at the first mention of the word 'hero.'

"And I imagine he'd wonder why the hell we're here in this hangar, and not out training for the next fight," he said.

Airman Servais, 23, volunteered to serve as the rear machine gunner in a convoy consisting of U.S. Special Operations Forces, Afghan National Army and Afghan Security Guard elements.

His patrol was ambushed by an estimated 100 anti-coalition militia as they traveled through the mountainous terrain, receiving small arms, rocket propelled grenade and sniper fire as close as 440 yards away on three sides.

As things heated up, Airman Servais delegated his machine gun duties to another crew member to free him up to direct close air support to suppress the enemy. He continued to engage the enemy while simultaneously directing close air support.
As he was talking to the pilots, an RPG exploded behind him , killing him.

"SrA Servais made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. We can ask no more than that," Lt. Gen. Mike Wooley, Air Force Special Operations Command commander, said in a letter read to the 23rd and 720th at the memorial. "We will always remember him along with the other warriors who have fallen while protecting our freedom. We will mourn his loss, we will honor his memory and we will miss his smile."

Airman Servais' funeral will be held Aug. 26 in his hometown of Onalaska, Wis.