Remembering fallen firefighters Published April 12, 2011 By Airman 1st Class Jessica Keith 17th Training Wing Public Affairs GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas-- -- Base representatives, loved ones, seasoned firefighters and students gathered at the Defense Department Fallen Firefighter Memorial here April 1 to commemorate the sacrifices of three fallen Defense Department firefighters who were killed in the line of duty. The names of William B. Travis from Norfolk Naval Air Base in Virginia, Robert Hoeflein from Navy Amphibious Base Little Creek in Virginia and Airman 1st Class Derek Kozorosky from Kadena Air Base in Japan were added to the memorial during the heartfelt ceremony, bringing the list to 82 names. Mr. Michael Robertson, Chief of Training Development for the Louis F. Garland Fire Academy, said although he and his team tried, they were unable to find Mr. Travis or Mr. Hoeflein's next-of-kin due to the fact that they passed away more than 20 years ago. However, they were able to track down Airman Kozorosky's family. The Airman's immediate family traveled from Pennsylvania to attend the ceremony. Tech. Sgt. Nelson Thomas, the Assistant Chief of Operations on duty the day Airman Kozorosky was killed, also attended. Mr. Travis was killed in 1981 and Mr. Hoeflein was killed in 1988. Although the memorial was erected here in 2006, their names were overlooked and not part of the original etching. Airman Kozorosky was killed at Kadena following a vehicle backing accident earlier this year. Airman Kozorosky's name is also slated to join Mr. Travis's and Mr. Hoeflein's names at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Md., during a ceremony next year. According to Mr. Robertson, the names of DoD firefighters killed in the line of duty were not added to the national memorial until October 2010. "It wasn't done to disrespect DoD firefighters," said Mr. Robertson. "It was an oversight in the inclusion criteria for the memorial that occurred back in 1981, when it was built." He said he began working with the executive director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to include DoD firefighters on the national monument in 2006. "It took us almost four years," Mr. Robertson said. "But we got it done." Once the criteria were changed, the names of 11 active duty DoD firefighters who were killed in the line of duty from 1981 to 2005 were added. Mr. Robertson said the DoD firefighters' names are now listed among the thousands of civilian firefighters who sacrificed everything for their fellow man. "It's an honor they deserve," said Mr. Robertson. "I am proud that I was able to contribute to having these heroes honored in the manner they have earned."
