Ouellette, Ronald Jones

Staff Sergeant Ronald Jones Ouellette was born in 1997 and grew up in Merrimack, New Hampshire. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and was assigned to the 42nd Aerial Port Squadron, based at Westover Air Reserve Base in Massachusetts. His unit specialized in cargo and passenger loading for airlift operations.

Ouellette died on September 14, 2020, at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. According to the Department of Defense, his death was the result of a non-combat related incident. The specific details of the incident were not publicly released by U.S. Central Command, which stated the matter was under investigation.

Ouellette was deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led military intervention against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria. The operation began in August 2014. Ali Al Salem Air Base served as a critical logistics and staging hub for coalition forces conducting air operations and moving personnel and equipment throughout the region.

Following his death, the 42nd Aerial Port Squadron and Westover Air Reserve Base issued statements mourning his loss. His body was returned to the United States, and a memorial service was held in his home state of New Hampshire. The Air Force did not release the findings of its investigation into the circumstances of his death.

Ouellette was posthumously promoted from Senior Airman to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He is remembered by his unit for his dedication to his duties in aerial port operations, a field essential to military logistics.

Staff Sergeant Ouellette was killed during Operation Inherent Resolve (ongoing since 2014). See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.

Among those documented in the same conflict: Villotcarrasco, Yeshabel, Spears, Jordan Lee, Walker, Jonathan Doyle, Neal, Sean Patrick.

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