By: Sharon Aron Baron
We remember Sergeant Timothy Weiner who was killed this month back in 2007 by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device while performing duties in Iraq. Weiner, a graduate of Piper High School left behind a wife and a son.
Air Force Tech. Sgt. Weiner, 35, of Tamarac was assigned to the 775th Civil Engineer Squadron Hill Air Force Base Utah was killed by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device while performing duties in the Baghdad area. Also killed were Senior Airman Elizabeth A. Loncki, 23, of New Castle Delaware and Senior Airman Daniel B. Miller Jr, 24, of Galesburg Illinois, died in the blast near Baghdad.
All three were members of the 775th Civil Engineer Squadrons Explosive Ordinance Disposal Flight. They were trained to safely dispose of bombs and maintain safe passage for convoys on supply routes. “It was similar to a car bomb in the road and they stopped to do what they normally do,” said Marilu Trainor, public affairs director at Hill Air Force Base. They were killed in action while performing their mission.”
Weiner who graduated from Piper High School in Sunrise was expected to return to his wife and 16-year-old son in Utah in just two weeks family members told WFOR-TV in Miami. Weiner loved computers and planned to retire in three years the relatives said. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1990.
The casualties were the first for Hill Air Force Base during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The base is about 28 miles north of Salt Lake City. With about 5,000 military personnel it is Utah’s largest military installation. “The loss of these airmen to Team Hill is a true tragedy to our organization, to our base, and to the Air Force. Their commitment to the units mission and the Air Force was unparalleled. They each were great patriots.” 75th Air Base Wing Commander Col. Scott Chambers said in a statement.
Loncki was the first woman from Delaware to die in combat in Iraq. She was deployed there in August and was scheduled to return home in 20 days, her family said. Her boyfriend, Sgt. Jayson Johnson, also stationed at Hill, was planning to visit and ask Loncki’s father for permission to marry her. Instead, he’ll serve as a military escort for her body as it is transported to Dover Air Force Base.
“She was a beautiful beautiful child.” Stephen Loncki said of his eldest daughter. “She loved her family and her family loved her. We miss her so much.”