Former Hanscom personnel memorialized

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The base community gathered here to remember three former members of Team Hanscom during a Memorial Park dedication ceremony May 20.

The ceremony recognized Peter B. "Pistol Pete" Bousquet, Senior Airman Kcey E. Ruiz and Senior Airman Nathan C. Sartain with a tree and bronze plaque dedicated in their memory.

"The trees and plaques we dedicate today will stand as everlasting symbols of these three people's lives and achievements," said Col. David R. Dunklee, installation commander. "They are living and growing tributes to their hard work, perseverance and sense of fellowship with friends and co-workers."

Bousquet, who passed away Nov. 12, 2014, was a 25-year employee of the base. He was born Sept. 28, 1958 in Brockton, Massachusetts, and following graduation from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he served for more than 10 years.

On hand to remember Bousquet was Lt. Col. Sidney S. Squires, 66th Force Support Squadron deputy director.

"He was a trusted friend of many and someone you could really count on," he said. "But most importantly, he was a treasured uncle, beloved son, compassionate brother who is dearly missed."

Bousquet is survived by his parents, June and Gilbert Allen; siblings, April Aikens and James Bousquet; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Ruiz and Sartain, both assigned to the 66th Security Forces Squadron, were killed last year when the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft they were on crashed shortly after takeoff from Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

Born in Laguna Hills, California, July 9, 1994, Ruiz's military career began April 16, 2013, following her enlistment in the U.S. Air Force as a security forces specialist. Upon completing Basic Military Training and Air Force Security Forces Academy Training in Texas, Ruiz came to Hanscom as an installation patrolman.

Tech. Sgt. Matthew Marquart, who supervised Ruiz, spoke on behalf of family members, friends and co-workers. He also described escorting her from Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, to her final resting place in Georgia in October.

"From Bagram Air Force Base, Afghanistan, to Hanscom Air Force Base. From Philadelphia to Atlanta. Friends, family, squadrons, bases, a whole nation felt pain that day," he said. "She was a friend, a sister. She was a daughter, she was an Airman -- and she is a hero."

She is survived by her mother, Kyhia Ruiz; father, Michael Ruiz; and sister, Maya Ruiz.

Sartain was born March 29, 1986, and is from Pensacola, Florida. His military career began April 29, 2013, with his enlistment in the U.S. Air Force. After graduating from Basic Military Training and Air Force Security Forces Academy Training in Texas, Sartain served as an installation patrolman at Hanscom.

Staff Sgt. Lee Shortell, who supervised Sartain and escorted him to Florida, offered his own reflection of the trip from Dover AFB to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

Shortell explained that while bringing Sartain's remains to Florida, the aircraft diverted to Georgia following engine trouble, three hours from where Ruiz's was. After switching aircraft, he described how he thought it was significant that it ended up being the same plane who took both to their final resting place.

"As we dedicate these trees to their memory ... I hope that I did justice to Kcey and Nathan, and sharing with all of you, their final flight home," he said.

Sartain is survived by his wife, Lana Paulley; stepdaughter, Alexia Paulley; father, retired U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Phillip Sartain; and mother, Janice Sartain.

"The people whose lives and accomplishments we are recognizing were integral parts of the Hanscom family, and their memory continues to live with us," said Bobby Jacques, ceremony organizer.

First opened in 1991, Memorial Park serves as a living monument to deceased members of the Hanscom community. With the dedication of these three trees this year, Memorial Park now has 68 trees dedicated to former Hanscom personnel.