Airman dies in combat operations in Afghanistan

Senior Airman Mark Forester was killed in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, when his special forces unit came under attack Sept. 29, 2010. Airman Forester was assigned to the 21st Special Tactics Squadron at Pope Air Force Base, N.C. WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- An Air Force Special Operations Command combat controller died Sept. 29 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Senior Airman Mark A. Forester, 29, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., was killed while conducting combat operations with his special forces team in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, at Pope Air Force Base, N.C. "Mark believed with all his heart in serving his God, his country and his family," said Maj. Edmund Loughran, the 21 STS acting commander. "The unit mourns his loss, but we could not be more proud of his devotion to defending what he believed in most."