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A warrior Airman remembered

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Heather Skinkle
  • 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  The First Four, an organization comprised of the first four enlisted ranks within the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing here at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, recently organized a memorial and 5K memorial race to commemorate the life of the late Airman 1st Class Raymond Losano.

Losano, a Tactical Air Control Party Airman with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division, deployed to Afghanistan, March 2003. When multiple insurgents attacked their position, he returned fire and called in for close air support, though he and another soldier were mortally wounded, he helped prevent his unit from being overrun.

"I thought I had sacrificed something while deployed because I went weeks unable to contact family or even shower, but then I saw an article about Losano in the newspaper and realized my actions paled in comparison," Lt. Col. Eric Chapital, 504th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group Deputy Commander and Losano's former co-worker, said.

I was home with my family and Losano, husband and father of two daughters, would never see his again, he said.

Losano moved forward when he could've taken cover because he knew he had to be on the front lines observing the enemy to direct the air strike, Chapital said. He sacrificed ever seeing his unborn child, his second daughter, or seeing his wife and eldest daughter, to serve with integrity, selflessness, and excellence.

Losano exemplifies our core values and like other heroes continues to inspire the next generation of Airmen. The First Four Airmen agree that the ceremony was a success and they were humbled to recognize a hero and place a memorial in the Camp named after Losano.

"This memorial and 5K will help cement his memory in every KAF member's mind," said Senior Airman Maurice Hardy, a member of Losano's unit and fellow TACP.

Hardy explained one of their unit mottoes is, "The strong shall stand while the weak fall by the wayside," but is quick to mention he interprets the motto as less about physical strength and more about mental toughness.

When Losano was injured his body might have been physically weakened, but his mental strength, dedication to the mission, and loyalty to his unit carried him through so he could complete his mission, Senior Airman said.

All First Four members agree that by working with a number of people across KAF, they learned better organizational skills and teamwork, but most importantly they learned the importance of preserving Air Force history.

All ranks, whether in a support or combat position, can learn from Losano's example.

"Most of us don't go outside the wire, but we all support fighting the war in our own way," said Senior Airman Makis Sebastien, a wing Command Post member and First Four member. "We shouldn't be complacent, we always need to do our job to the best of our ability."

The Losano Memorial serves as a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice all of our fallen service men and women paid for our Nation's freedom.

"I didn't know when I met him that I was standing in the midst of a hero, he was an excellent TACP, but nobody knows if one day they will place their lives in the line of fire; Ray did it, and we celebrate him, and all our fallen Airmen," Chapital said.

For his actions, Losano was awarded the Bronze Star with valor and the Purple Heart. He left behind his wife, Sarah, and two daughters, as well his many family and friends.