At Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, a new and poignant memorial has been established to pay tribute to the brave Air Force Ground Transportation operators who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their nation. Located within the 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron (LRS) ground transportation building, this dedicated space serves as a solemn reminder of the risks and sacrifices inherent in their crucial role.
Senior Airman Matthew Chandler, a ground transportation operator with the 436th LRS, spearheaded the initiative to create this lasting tribute. Driven by a deep sense of respect and remembrance, Chandler dedicated four months to bringing this project to fruition.
“I wanted to build this to remember all the Airmen that we have had in our past that have been killed in the line of action,” Chandler explained, highlighting the personal significance of the memorial.
The concept for the memorial evolved through collaborative brainstorming sessions with Chandler’s fellow LRS teammates. The chosen design features shadow boxes, offering a dignified and movable format to honor the fallen. While some finishing touches, such as repainting the wall behind the display, are still underway, the memorial stands as a testament to collective effort and remembrance.
According to Chandler, the project was a team effort, with widespread support from across the 436th LRS. Personnel contributed in various ways, from initial planning and construction of the shadow boxes to financial donations, demonstrating a shared commitment to honoring their fallen comrades.
Tech. Sgt. Gregory Kolasch, the 436th LRS noncommissioned officer in charge of training validation and operation, lauded Chandler’s leadership in the project. “It was an honor to help Airman Chandler with the wall of the fallen. We couldn’t have picked a better person to lead this project,” Kolasch stated, emphasizing the collaborative spirit behind the memorial.
Among the multiple shadow boxes, one holds particular personal significance for Chandler. It commemorates Airman 1st Class Zachary Cuddeback, a fellow ground transportation operator with whom Chandler shared a close bond while stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Chandler recounted their early days in Germany, “I was there when he first got there as a young Airman. We both [had] just gotten stationed at Ramstein, first time being away from home and everything. We lived in the dorms together and would hang out with the shop and all clown around and have a good time.”
The memory of Cuddeback remains vivid and poignant for Chandler. “I was deployed at the time in the Middle East, and he was at Ramstein still doing a normal job,” Chandler continued. Tragically, in 2011, A1C Cuddeback was killed in a terrorist attack at Frankfurt Airport while transporting personnel, a devastating event that deeply impacted those who knew him.
Cuddeback’s shadow box serves as a powerful reminder of the real dangers faced by Air Force ground transportation operators, who are responsible for the safe and efficient movement of personnel and equipment in diverse and sometimes hazardous environments. Their role is vital to mission success, ensuring that Air Force operations run smoothly and effectively, both stateside and abroad.
Reflecting on the potential impact of the memorial, Chandler acknowledged concerns that it might be somber for newer Airmen. “I feared it might intimidate new Airmen or be depressing, because those are people who have been killed in the line of duty.”
However, Chandler and his fellow LRS Airmen believe the importance of honoring the fallen outweighs these concerns. The memorial is intended not to intimidate, but to instill a sense of respect and understanding of the sacrifices made by those who came before them.
“The wall is to remind individuals that we need to honor and remember the fallen,” Chandler affirmed. “Those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for us.” The Air Force ground transportation memorial at Dover AFB stands as a powerful symbol of this enduring commitment to remembrance, ensuring that the sacrifices of these Airmen are never forgotten.
