Gerrie, John David

Also known as: MAJ, 453D ELECTRONIC WAREFARE SQUADRON, JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, TX (ACC)

Combatant

Male Verified

DiedJanuary 16, 2016

Age43 years old

Location of DeathAL UDEID AB, QATAR

Cause of DeathKilled in action

Conflict Operation Inherent Resolve

Maj. John David Gerrie, 43, of Nickerson, Kansas, was a U.S. Air Force officer serving with the 453rd Electronic Warfare Squadron. He died on January 16, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

Their Story

John David Gerrie was a 43-year-old major in the United States Air Force from Nickerson, Kansas. He was assigned to the 453rd Electronic Warfare Squadron, based at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas, and was deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

According to the Department of Defense, Maj. Gerrie died on January 16, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The official release stated he was killed in action, though the specific circumstances of the incident were not detailed in the initial announcement. Al Udeid served as a major coalition air operations center for the campaign.

Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led military intervention against the Islamic State (ISIS), began in August 2014. By early 2016, the conflict was focused on rolling back ISIS territorial gains in Iraq and Syria through airstrikes and support to local ground forces.

Following his death, Maj. Gerrie was posthumously promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. A memorial service was held for him at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. The Air Force did not release further details regarding the investigation into the incident that led to his death.

Lt. Col. Gerrie is remembered on memorial walls and in official Air Force tributes. His service is documented in the Pentagon's casualty releases and by veteran organizations tracking losses from the conflict.