In Remembrance: Staff Sgt. James Wells II

  • Published
  • By the Office of Public Affairs
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Staff Sgt. James Wells II, 6th Air Refueling Wing KC-10 in-flight refueling operator, passed away Sept. 22 as a result of injuries sustained in a fall in Sacramento, Calif. 

Sergeant Wells was from Buckley, Wash., and had served in the Air Force for seven years and six months. He is survived by his wife, Patricia; father, James; mother, Gena and sister, Kelli Renard.

"James was one of our outstanding boom operators in the 6th ARS," said Lt. Col. Mike Moore, 6th ARS operations officer. "His first tour was at Bolling Air Force Base, Wash., as an honor guard member performing drill ceremonies and providing honors for many distinguished visitors, such as President Bush's inauguration and funerals for many famed leaders like Gen. Benjamin Davis and Medal of Honor recipient John Levitow. Arriving at Travis in 2004, he quickly mastered the KC-10 boom operator's duties and was in the process of upgrading to become an instructor boom operator."

"James was an elite aviator, passionate [Seattle] Seahawks fan, faithful friend, true American hero, and, most of all, a loyal and loving husband," said Senior Master Sgt. Dana Hutchinson, 6th ARS chief boom operator.

"He was a fantastic Airman with amazing enthusiasm," added Colonel Moore. "His smile was always bright and contagious and his performance was outstanding. He was an obvious first choice for our most challenging missions. From deployments in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom to missions carrying the Secretary of Defense, we would look to Sergeant Wells for his expertise and professional image."