Loftis, John Darin
Male
Verified U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel John Darin Loftis, 44, of Paducah, Kentucky, was killed in a hostile attack on February 25, 2012, in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Their Story
John Darin Loftis was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force. A native of Paducah, Kentucky, he was assigned to the 866th Air Expeditionary Squadron and served in multiple deployments, including to Afghanistan, the Philippines, and the Horn of Africa.
On February 25, 2012, Loftis was shot and killed inside the Afghan Ministry of Interior in Kabul. The attack was carried out by an Afghan national who was an employee of the ministry. Another U.S. officer, Major Robert J. Marchanti II, was also killed in the same incident.
The killings occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. The incident was part of a series of so-called 'green-on-blue' attacks, where Afghan security personnel or individuals in uniform attacked their international allies.
The U.S. Department of Defense officially confirmed Loftis's death. The attack prompted a temporary suspension of joint operations between NATO forces and their Afghan counterparts and intensified scrutiny of the vetting process for Afghan personnel.
Loftis was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. He was survived by his wife and two daughters.
Explore Further
Lt. Col. Loftis was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
