New Hampshire Airman's death under investigation in Qatar

NH Airman dies overseas in non-combat incident

WMUR
Cherise Leclerc
April 20, 2019

The Department of Defense says Staff Sgt. Albert J. Miller, of Richmond, has died overseas.

Miller died on April 19th at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in a non-combat related incident.

He was assigned to the 736th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware and was supporting Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.

Miller was 24 years old.

An investigation into the cause of his death is ongoing
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Air Force Al Udeid Air Base Hep and HIV Exposure?

Air Force: 135 Patients May Have Been Exposed to HIV, Hepatitis
Military.com
by Oriana Pawlyk
20 Jun 2017

The Air Force said patients with questions or concerns may reach out to their healthcare resolution specialist at the following contacts: U.S. Eastern Daylight time zone or outside the continental U.S.: (937) 656-3818; U.S. Pacific or Mountain time zone, Hawaii, or Alaska: (707) 423-3443; and Central time zone: (228) 376-5603.

FILE -- Air Force doctors perform a diagnostic procedure on a patient. (Air Force File Image)

The U.S. Air Force is notifying 135 patients who received colonoscopy or endoscopy procedures at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar that they may have been exposed to blood-borne diseases such as HIV or hepatitis.

Air Force Medical Services announced Tuesday that scopes used for the upper and lower gastrointestinal procedures over an eight-year-period from April 2008 and April 2016 at the base clinic were not properly cleaned in accordance with Food and Drug Administration guidelines, Office of the Air Force Surgeon General spokeswoman Larine Barr told Military.com on Wednesday.

As a result, patients could have been exposed to possible viral infections that include human immunodeficiency virus, known as HIV, "and two kinds of Hepatitis (B and C)," Barr said. "The risk of infection is very small, particularly in a deployed environment, but we recommend that patients receive diagnostic testing," she said in an email.
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Air Force Major Died in Qatar

US Air Force officer dead in non-combat incident in Qatar 
The Gazette
Published: January 18, 2016

SAN ANTONIO (AP) —

A U.S. Air Force officer from Kansas has died in a non-combat related incident while serving in Qatar (GUH'-tur).

The Department of Defense says 42-year-old Maj. John D. Gerrie died Saturday in Al Udeid Air Base.

The cause of death was not immediately released. DOD says Gerrie was supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel.

He was assigned to 453rd Electronic Warfare Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

Gerrie is a native of Nickerson, Kansas. get updates here

Delta Airline Pilot-Navy Reserve Officer Death Under Investigation in Qatar

Navy officer dies in Qatar
Cmdr. Christopher Kalafut, 49 of Oceanside, dies in non-combat incident
UT San Diego
By Jeanette Steele
OCT. 26, 2014

A 49-year-old Navy officer from Oceanside died Friday in Qatar in a non-combat incident, the Pentagon said Sunday.

Cmdr. Christopher E. Kalafut was in Doha at Al Udeid Air Base. He was part of U.S. Central Command's Naval Amphibious Liaison Element.

He was serving in Qatar as part of the war effort in Afghanistan.

The Pentagon said the incident is under investigation.

Kalafut was a Navy Reservist who had worked as an airline pilot for Delta since 2001, based out of Atlanta. He and his spouse, Mary, bore five children ranging from age 12 to 21.

A Delta release said the family resides in Acworth, Ga., and noted that he was the subject of an article in Georgia's Marietta Daily Journal on Father's Day this year.
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Death of Fort Bragg Major in Qatar Under Investigation

Fort Bragg soldier dies in Qatar
Fayetteville Observer
By Drew Brooks, Military editor
October 8, 2014

Maj. Jonathan D. Walker, 44, of Merriam, Kansas, died Oct. 1 at Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar, according to U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

Walker was assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Psychological Operations Group at Fort Bragg.

A statement from USASOC described the death as a "non-combat related incident" and said it was under investigation.
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300 Florida National Guards Soldiers Welcomed Home

Families celebrate return of Florida Army National Guard troops
Tampa Tribune
By Dave Nicholson
Tribune Staff
January 6, 2014

PLANT CITY — Tracy Sikorski probably summed up the feelings of everyone on hand Sunday to welcome home 300 Florida Army National Guard soldiers from nearly a year’s deployment.

“I’m excited and happy that he’s home and that he’s safe,” Sikorski said of her nephew, Sgt. Sean Nickelson. “We’re very proud of him and we’re glad he’s back with us.”

Nickelson’s 4-year-old daughter Jaycee, mother Angie Maness, grandmother Reba Boaz and cousin Jeremy Sikorski also helped celebrate the safe return of the Port St. Lucie soldier and his comrades.

About 300 members of the Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery Regiment were honored at a homecoming celebration at the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds. The Plant City-based troops provided security at various military installations in Qatar, a country bordering Saudi Arabia.

The Middle East deployment was the battalion’s second since 2005-06, when it was in Iraq and Kuwait, also with no casualties.

Except for a four-day Christmas pass, the Guardsmen hadn’t been home since February.

Several Plant City residents who didn’t have family members in the Guard came out to show their support, such as Sue Moos. Her son, Robert, is in the Army and spent 13 months in Iraq so she can identify with those with family members who spend time in harm’s way.
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Army investigating two non-combat deaths

Soldier from Augusta dies in Afghanistan
The Augusta Chronicle
By Jenna Martin
Staff Writer
Thursday, July 4, 2013

U.S. Army Spc.Hilda I. Clayton, 22, of Augusta, died Tuesday in a non-combat incident in Afghanistan. She was stationed at Fort Meade in Maryland

A 22-year-old soldier from Augusta died Tuesday in a non-combat incident in Afghanistan.

The U.S. Department of Defense announced Wednesday that Army Spc. Hilda I. Clayton died in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, after the incident occurred in Qaraghahi, Afghanistan. The incident is under investigation and no details were released.

Clayton, stationed at Fort George G. Meade, Md., was a combat documentation specialist and assigned to the 55th Signal Co., a combat camera unit, 21st Signal Brigade, said Fort Meade spokesman Chad Jones.
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Utah soldier dies in non-combat incident in Qatar
FOX 13
by Brittany Green-Miller
July 4, 2013

CLEARFIELD, Utah – A Utah soldier died in a non-combat incident in Qatar this week.

44-year-old First Sgt. Tracy L. Stapley died July 3 at Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar, the Department of Defense said in a statement released Thursday.
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234th Army birthday

Senior Leader Explains Army Birthday Celebration


Senior Leader Explains Army Birthday Celebration
Area Support Group Qatar Public Affairs Office
Story by Dustin Senger
Date: 06.12.2009
Posted: 06.13.2009 10:57

CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar – "I bring you greetings from the great state of Massachusetts, the birth place of our Army," said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Mittie A. Smith, U.S. Army Garrison senior enlisted leader, during a speech honoring the 234th Army birthday at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, June 12. Smith traveled across the world to celebrate the Army birthday as a guest speaker for Soldiers stationed in Qatar.

During her remarks, Smith addressed an important question, "Why celebrate when the nation is at war?"

"What if your loved ones forgot, or failed, to celebrate your birthday or anniversary?" said Smith. "Your feelings would be tremendously hurt. You'd be disappointed and it would be difficult for them to recover ... because the occasion means something to you. You want your loved ones to remember that special day, regardless of what is going on in the world."

"Just like your birthday, the Army's birthday is a day of remembrance," she said. "It's a day of honor and respect ... a day to recognize the value of creation. On this 234th Army birthday, we pay special tribute to our non-commissioned officers, the backbone of our Army – hooah!"
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Soldier Inspired to Sing at Army Birthday Celebration
"I was really nervous but inspired," said U.S. Army Spc. Lisa Ratliff, from Copperas Cove, Texas, after a solo performance of the "The Star-Spangled Banner," during a celebration of the 234th Army birthday at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, June 12, 2009. "To honor the Year of the Non-commissioned Officer, I was hoping to help make the Army birthday ball in Qatar something spectacular."06.13.09, Story by Dustin Senger