ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AP) - The U.S. Department of Defense says an airman assigned to an Altus Air Force Base squadron has died while serving in Afghanistan.
The military says 23-year-old Andrew Bubacz of Dalzell, S.C., died Friday in Nuristan, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 97th Communications Squadron.
According to a news release on the base's website, Bubacz died from head injuries he suffered while maintaining a communications tower at a forward operating base. An investigation into his death is ongoing.
Base officials say Bubacz had been deployed to Afghanistan as a member of a provincial reconstruction team.
Col. Ty Thomas, the commander of the 97th Air Mobility Wing, says Bubacz "was a great airman" and that he'll be missed. Flags at Altus Air Force Base will fly at half-staff until memorial services for Bubacz are complete.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
