Air Force Investigates Death of Airman on Guam

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Andersen Air Force Base, Guam is located on the north end of Guam, approximately 15 miles from the capital, Agana (Source: militaryinstallations.dod.mil)
Andersen Air Force Base, Guam is located on the north end of Guam, approximately 15 miles from the capital, Agana (Source: militaryinstallations.dod.mil)

An airman was found unresponsive Friday at San Luis Beach, Guam, and later pronounced dead at Naval Hospital Guam, according to an Air Force release.

The active-duty airman, unidentified pending next-of-kin notification, was temporarily assigned to Andersen Air Force Base, the release said. San Luis Beach is located on the U.S. naval station on the island.

The Air Force said the airman's death is under investigation.

"It is the worst kind of tragedy when we lose a member of our Air Force family," said Brig. Gen. Douglas Cox, 36th Wing commander, in the statement. "Our condolences are with the immediate family and everyone affected by this loss."

Exercise Valiant Shield 16, a large-scale war game in the Pacific, was ongoing all week throughout Guam and off its coast. The exercise, which included 18,000 personnel and more than 180 aircraft from the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, concluded Friday.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at@Oriana0214.

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