The Air Force has identified the airman who has been missing in the Gulf of Mexico since Tuesday as Dallas native Cole Condiff.
In a press release, the Air Force said Condiff, 29, a staff sergeant who who a special tactics combat controller in the 24th Special Operations Wing “had an unplanned parachute departure” from a C-130 airplane.
Military officials also said that recovery efforts led by the Navy and the Air Force were ongoing.
An Air Force investigation is also underway.
Condiff was a graduate of Sachse High School and later attended Utah Valley University. He served a two year mission with the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints in Spokane, Washington before enlisting in the Air Force in 2012.
“Cole was a man with deep-rooted beliefs who dedicated himself to God, our freedoms, peace, and his family. He was a devoted family man within our squadron, focused on teaching his girls to be adventurous like he was,” U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Steven Cooper, Condiff’s squadron commander, said in a statement.
“This is a tragic loss to the squadron, the Special Tactics community and our nation. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and teammates at this time.”
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Officials said the airman was a static-line jumpmaster, military free-fall jumper, combat scuba diver, air traffic controller, and a joint terminal attack controller. He had completed deployments to Africa and Afghanistan and had received two medals for his service.
Condiff is survived by his wife, two daughter, his parents, a sister and two brothers.
A GoFundMe page has been setup to help Condiff’s family.
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