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In His Honor: Street named for Airman killed in action

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Approximately 400 servicemembers gathered at an intersection on an air base in the Persian Gulf Region on June 10, 2008 to honor a vehicle operator who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq a year ago.

Airman 1st Class Eric Barnes, 20, of Lorain, Ohio, died June 10, 2007 as result of an improvised explosive device attack on an Air Force convoy about 100 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq. He was deployed from the 90th Logistics Readiness Squadron at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.

"Eric was one of the brave, one of the courageous, and one of the dedicated Airmen who was committed to making a difference," said Chief Master Sgt. Carl Hunsinger, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing command chief.

"He came to the theater willing and ready to do what he loved and worked side by side with the Soldiers and Airmen executing this incredibly important mission," said Chief Hunsinger. "He took on the toughest missions as the lead vehicle driver ... he had a bright and positive disposition ... he was a good man who will truly be missed."

Airmen from the 586th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, 70th and 424th Medium Truck Detachments, and Soldiers from the Army's 1st Theater Support Command, 640th Sustainment Brigade, 1144th Transportation Battalion, descended upon the new intersection to pay tribute to Airman Barnes and his family with the naming of Barnes Road during a street-naming dedication ceremony.

Chief Master Sgt. Richard Bunce, the guest speaker of the ceremony from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, was the 424th MTD chief enlisted manager Airman Barnes worked for during their 2007 deployment and provided some emotional words.

"Back in October, Chief Hunsinger managed to see my detachment off by having all of us in this very place to see where Eric would be honored before we headed home," said Chief Bunce. "I'm honored to be here today for those 165 Airmen of the 424th Medium Truck Detachment in dedicating this road in his name.

"There's always that one guy out of a group that kind of stands out and it wasn't hard for Eric because he was about 6-foot-5," said the chief recalling the beginning of their six month rotation in April 2007. "We only had one returning combat veteran from this type of mission and it was an airman first class, not a staff, not a tech or a master sergeant, an airman first class, and it was this guy. And he shared everything that he knew with his peers and his non-commissioned officers, and that's a true leader and a patriot."

Chief Bunce said Airman Barnes was a great kid growing up donating his hair to cancer patients and was an Eagle Scout. He was very well loved in his hometown by his family and his friends -- just a special, special person, he added.

"It's a year past Eric Barnes' passing and the time for grieving is over for many of us, but we will not forget him," said Col. Robert Swisher, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing commander.

"Our hearts and minds go out to his family," said Colonel Swisher. "His passing is a permanent loss for his family, for the U.S. Air Force, and especially for our family here with the 386th AEW. Ceremonies like this help remind each one of us that the cost is not low for what we're accomplishing."

Barnes Road intersects with Jacobson Avenue, named in honor of Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Jacobson, who died while on a convoy near Camp Bucca, Iraq, on Sept. 28, 2005 when her vehicle was hit by an IED. She is the first female Airman killed in the line of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom.