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HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFNS - 3/8/2012) -- A funeral service was
held here Monday for Lt. Col. John Darin Loftis, who died Feb. 25
from wounds received during an attack at the Interior Ministry,
Kabul, Afghanistan.
Approximately 250 family, friends and Airmen from across the Air Force attend Lt. Col. John Darin Loftis' funeral Monday, Mar. 5, 2012, at the base chapel on Hurlburt Field, Fla. Loftis died Feb. 25,
2012 from wounds received during an attack at the Interior Ministry, Kabul, Afghanistan. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christopher Williams |
The solemn service was attended by approximately 250 of
Loftis's family, friends and Airmen from across the Air
Force. Among his family, his brother-in-law, Rev. Dr. Brian
Brewer, gave the pastoral 'message of hope.'
"My
favorite picture of Darin was taken in Afghanistan in 2009,"
Brewer said. "In this iconic photograph, it is illustrative
of an attitude, a service, of which he lived his whole life.
That picture is quintessential J.D. An armed trooper makes
himself vulnerable, a soldier of arms among admiring
children with outstretched arms. It is representative of the
ideal...an emblematic snapshot of Darin's life."
Loftis lived his life with outstretched arms. As a college
student, he worked with the homeless in Nashville; in the
Peace Corps, he lived alongside the Duna tribesmen of the
'bush' in Papua New Guinea; and he broke down cultural
barriers by speaking Pashto fluently, drinking tea with
village elders and even attending a traditional wedding in
Afghanistan.
His outstretched arms however, were
always filled with his two beloved daughters when at home.
While helping his oldest with her math homework, he
explained least common denominators as a problem where the
solution is to find a common language between them. That
summarized his life's work - finding a common language to
build trust and unity.
In Afghanistan, building
trust was his ultimate goal and mission, according to his
family.
"Darin was serving humanity through military
service," Brewer said. "The Afghan who shot him grossly
misunderstood Darin's mission. As an officer told me,
'Afghanistan lost its best friend.'"
Loftis was
deployed in support of OPERATION Enduring Freedom, working
as the chief plans advisor for the International Security
Assistance Force, in an industrious program called AfPak
Hands. In that role, Loftis advised and mentored top Afghan
National Police officials in their native language of
Pashto.
"Recognized for his superior language and
cultural skills...Colonel Loftis guided the security
planning for more than 20 major national events," according
to his Bronze Star Medal first oak leaf cluster citation.
Most notably, he guided security planning for the
reopening of Kabul's largest stadium complex where Afghan
President Karzai held his "Loya Jirga" or Grand Assembly.
This single event demonstrated the ability of the Government
of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to safeguard its
citizens and 2,000 senior leaders.
He also traveled
to remote corners of the country where he assessed and
prepared Afghan districts for transition from coalition to
ANP security.
According to the citation, "his
courageous efforts directly contributed to the successful
transition of 45 districts to Afghan control, proving to the
international community governance, security, and peace can
be achieved."
Loftis genuinely believed peace was
built with understanding and solidarity, his brother-in-law
said.
Loftis leaves behind an exemplary example to
his children of a life of service and sacrifice. Long before
he made the ultimate sacrifice though, he recognized his
family's support. In one of his masters' theses, he wrote of
gratitude to his family, which Brewer read aloud.
"Finally, many of the burdens of this research were borne by
my patient family," then-Captain Loftis wrote. "A
disproportionate share of the household affairs fell upon my
lovely wife during this demanding time, and I owe you much
gratitude. And to my toddler who became a preschooler and my
infant who became a toddler during this time--Daddy's home
now!"
Brewer referenced the family's faith and spoke
personally to them, "this is not the end."
"We know
Darin's sacrifice was not in vain. For in dangers, in toils
and in snares, we have already come," Brewer said. "J.D. has
finished his final mission. He served his country well,
served his fellow man well and served his eternal God very
well."
As the service came to a close, in a final
roll call, his U.S. Air Force Special Operations School
division lead, Lt. Col. Jim Piel, called out with genuine
emotion, "Lt. Col. John Darin Loftis, killed in action, Feb.
25, 2012." Then with full military honors, a 21-gun salute
fired outside the chapel doors, followed by the bugle
playing of "Taps." As the family walked out into the bright
sun, a flyover of a MC-130P met them overhead.
Loftis was posthumously awarded the
Bronze Star Medal first oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart, the
Meritorious Service Medal first oak leaf cluster and the Air
Force Combat Action Medal.
By USAF Capt. Kristen D. Duncan
Air Force Special Operations
Command Public Affairs
Air Force News Service
Copyright 2012
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