R.I.P. Senior Master Sgt. James B. Lackey

Air Force Senior Master Sgt. James B. Lackey
Died April 09, 2010 serving during Operation Enduring Freedom

45, of Green Clove Springs, Fla.; assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.; died April 9 near Kandahar, Afghanistan, in a crash of a CV-22 Osprey.

(The following was taken from www.fox30jax.com of Apr. 12, 2010) GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. --Nearly half of James Lackey's life was spent defending our country. And that's how he lost his life on Friday.

Senior Master Sgt. Lackey was flying in a CV-22 Osprey when it crashed in Afghanistan. The Taliban claims it shot down the aircraft but the Pentagon says the crash is still under investigation.

Lackey's family took the news of his death especially hard. The pastor at his church, Roger Peadro, says the family is mourning in private.

"You know that it's a possibility for this type of incident to happen but you never really expect it," Peadro told Action News.

Lackey spent several years living in Green Cove Springs before joining the Air Force. That's when he moved to Fort Walton Beach, where his wife and three sons now live.

A memorial will be held for Lackey and another serviceman on Friday, near Fort Walton Beach.