Salazar, Anthony Edmund

Anthony Edmund Salazar was a 40-year-old Technical Sergeant from Hermosa Beach, California. He served as a member of the Air Force Reserve, assigned to the 452nd Civil Engineer Squadron based at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County.

According to U.S. Department of Defense casualty reports, Salazar died on April 13, 2015, from wounds sustained during a rocket attack on Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates. The base, a key hub for U.S. and coalition air operations in the region, came under indirect fire from militants.

Salazar's death occurred during Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led military intervention against the Islamic State group (ISIS). The operation began in August 2014 after ISIS seized large territories in Iraq and Syria. Al Dhafra Air Base was used for reconnaissance, refueling, and strike aircraft missions supporting the campaign.

The Pentagon confirmed Salazar's death the following day. His passing was reported by major news outlets, including the Associated Press and the Los Angeles Times, which noted he was the second U.S. service member to die in a rocket attack in the region within a week.

Salazar was posthumously promoted from Staff Sergeant to the rank of Technical Sergeant. He is memorialized on the Air Force Casualty List and at the California Veterans Memorial in his home state.

Anthony Salazar 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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