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731 AMS Airman remembered at Osan

  • Published
  • By Seventh Air Force Public Affairs

A memorial was held to remember Staff Sgt. Cierra Rogers, a 731st Air Mobility Squadron Airman, here June 24, 2016.

Military and civilian members of the Osan and Pyeongtaek community gathered alongside the Rogers family to honor Sergeant Rogers, a 731st Air Mobility Squadron Airman, who died May 20.

“Let us remember her huge smile and her willingness to help others. While she was here, Cierra enjoyed life and she truly lived life to the fullest,” said Lt. Col. Breanna Fulton, 731st AMS commander.

While Rogers was known to her colleagues at Osan Air Base as a coworker and friend, she was known in the Korean community surrounding the base as a heroine who kicked out a window to help a local Nigerian family escape from a burning building on April 29.

“Staff Sgt. Rogers’ honorable actions to help those in danger were a true example of what it means to serve,” said Lt. Gen. Lee, Wang-Keon, ROK Air Force Operations Command commander, who was present to offer condolences on behalf of Republic of Korea President Park Geun-Hye and Minister of Defense Han Min-Koo. “We highly respect her courageous actions and will forever remember her noble sacrifice.”

Lt. Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy, Seventh Air Force Commander, met with Rogers’ family before the memorial ceremony to pay his respects.

“Today we celebrate the life of a friend, a daughter, a sister and an Airman who truly dedicated herself to serving others,” said O’Shaughnessy. “Cierra traveled halfway around the world to help defend and protect the people of Korea. While she was here, like so many U.S. Airmen, she became integrated into a local community which has welcomed so many of us for more than sixty years. As a member of that community, when she had an opportunity to help people in mortal danger she didn’t hesitate to act. She set a tremendous example of service before self, one that all Airmen can aspire to.”

 

Members of the Enyioko family, who Rogers helped rescue on April 29, also attended the ceremony along with representatives from the Embassy of Nigeria, Seoul. 

The ceremony ended with a final roll call of Airmen assigned to the squadron, followed by the playing of TAPS.


Rogers was a native of Dallas, Texas. She enlisted in the Air Force in 2010 and spent five years in San Antonio at Lackland Air Force Base before serving a year at Osan Air Base. She passed away shortly after arriving at her follow-on duty station in Florida. The cause of Rogers’ death is currently under investigation.