823d BDS remembers fallen Airman

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ryan Callaghan
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The 823d Base Defense Squadron held a memorial service to commemorate the life of a fallen Airman at the base auditorium here, Sept. 16.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Todd "TJ" Lobraico Jr., native of New Fairfield, Conn., died Sept. 5, from wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with small-arms fire near Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Lobraico, 22, was assigned to the 105th Security Forces Squadron at Stewart Air National Guard Base, N.Y.

The 105th SFS augments the 820th Base Defense Group by sending Airmen to train and deploy with them on a regular basis.

"The 823d was deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, alongside the Airmen from the 105th Security Forces Squadron," said Maj. Andrew Resch, 823d BDS commander. "They come here to Moody Air Force Base to train with my unit, deploy with my unit, and they work alongside my unit ..."

Resch also spoke on the relationship between the 820th BDG, the 105th SFS and Lobraico as a guest speaker at the service.

"They became part of our team," said Resch. "We took them in like anyone else. They were our partners no matter what. We identify with him. He was one of us."

Approximately 400 Airmen filed to the front of the auditorium to salute a memorial that symbolized Lobraico to end the service, while those who knew him stayed to share their memories.

Senior Airman Heather Windsor, 824th Base Defense Squadron fire team member, attended technical training with Lobraico and deployed with him twice.

"When you think of TJ, you think of a good kid," said Windsor. "He was always happy. He had such a bright future."

Senior Master Sgt. Mark Summers, 105th SFS liaison, was there for Lobraico's first deployment and said there was something that just made people like him.

"TJ's youthfulness and innocence reminded all of home when we were far from it," said Summers. "TJ always had a smile on his face that lit up the whole room. We will never forget our brother. We all loved him. TJ was, and is, our rock."