Staff Sgt. Andrew Bubacz was one of Mighty 97th's finest

  • Published
  • By 97th Air Mobility Wing
  • Public Affairs office
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Staff Sgt. Andrew Bubacz, a 23-year-old Airman assigned to the 97th Communications Squadron here, died Nov. 12 while deployed as part of a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Nuristan, Afghanistan.

Sergeant Bubacz, (pronounced "Boo-bahtch") passed away after sustaining head injuries while maintaining a communications tower at a forward operating base in Afghanistan.

Emergency crews responded and Sergeant Bubacz was transported to the hospital at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, where he was pronounced dead. The investigation into the cause of his death is ongoing.

"I am deeply saddened by the loss of Sergeant Bubacz," said Col. Ty Thomas, 97th Air Mobility Wing commander. "Andrew will be truly missed by our wing and community. My heart goes out to his family and to all those who knew him well here."

Sergeant Bubacz served as a communications specialist on the PRT, and had been in theater for one month of his 270-day deployment at the time of his death. While stationed here, he was a 97th Communications Squadron Help Desk technician, a 97th Air Mobility Wing command section client support administrator, and worked in the 97th CS official mail center.

"Sergeant Bubacz was a very gifted and motivated Airman," said Maj. Randy Wardak, 97th CS commander. "We are proud to have worked with him. He had a tremendous impact on the unit and across the base. He is definitely missed."

Hailing from Dalzell, S.C., Sergeant Bubacz enlisted in the Air Force Sept. 27, 2005 and attended Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. He then transitioned to the 336th Training Squadron at Keesler AFB, Miss., for technical school as a communications specialist, and moved here in February 2006.

Sergeant Bubacz earned Community College of the Air Force degrees in both biology and information management, as well as an associate's degree in biology from Western Oklahoma State College.

Sergeant Bubacz attended Airman Leadership School Jan. 5 - Feb. 5, and he is a recipient of the Air Force Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

The funeral for Sergeant Bubacz will take place Nov. 19 at the Bullock Funeral Home, 1190 Wilson Hall Rd. in Sumter, S.C., followed by burial at the Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4170 Percival Rd. in Columbia, S.C. Further information regarding a memorial service here will be released as it becomes available.