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Dyess Airmen killed in C-130J crash identified

  • Published
  • By 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Today, the Office of the Secretary of Defense announced the names those killed in the crash of C-130J at Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan, on Oct. 2.

Of the eleven individuals on board the aircraft, four were Airmen were assigned to the 317th Airlift Group here. Dyess Airmen killed in the crash were:

Capt. Jordan Pierson, 28, 39th Airlift Squadron pilot, of Abilene, Texas, survived by his wife, Jaime.

Capt. Jonathan "JJ" Golden, 33, 39th Airlift Squadron pilot, of Camarillo, California, survived by his wife, Danielle, and two children.

Staff Sgt. Ryan Hammond, 26, 39th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, of Moundsville, West Virginia, survived by his wife, Holly.

Senior Airman Quinn Johnson-Harris, 21, 39th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, survived by his mother, Yvette Harris; father,  Lamar Harris; siblings, Fatia Johnson-Harris, Lamar Johnson-Harris, Jeremy Johnson, and Christopher Schaffer; grandfather, Nathaniel; and stepmother, Tracy Harris.

"I speak on behalf of all of Team Dyess when I say our heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of all who lost loved ones," said Col. Michael Bob Starr, 7th Bomb Wing commander. "The greatest asset that the Air Force has is not a plane or a piece of equipment. It is our Airmen and those who support them. We are using all means available to support and comfort those families, friends and brothers and sisters in arms who are affected by this tragic loss."

"We are all mourning the loss of these incredible young men, but no one more than those who lost their loved ones," said Col. Stephen Hodge, 317th Airlift Group commander. "These Airmen were our friends and our family, and the halls of the group and the skies overhead will never be the same without them. Though they are no longer with us, the memories of those whose lives they touched will remain forever."

Those killed from Dyess were serving on a four month rotation to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel.

The cause of the crash is under investigation by officials in the Central Command Area of Responsibility.

More information will be released as it becomes available.