In Honor of A1C Ken Sturgill

 By 1st Lt Karin Hollerbach, photos of memorial events by Lt Col Juan Tinnirello 

As most of our CAP colleagues in California Wing will know by now, Airman 1st Class Ken Sturgill passed away earlier this month while attending USAF training in Texas, at the age of 21.

A1C Sturgill was said to have graduated in the top of his basic training class of over 700 recruits. Before that, he served in CAP, where he had achieved the rank of Captain.

Known to many in CAP as “K3”, he was a long-time cadet member of CAP, serving in the East Bay Cadet Squadron 18 in San Francisco Bay Area’s Group 2 (see also Squadron 18’s Facebook link).

Although I never had the honor of working with or meeting K3, many of my CAP colleagues have told me how much they treasured working with both K3 and his parents, Maj Kenneth Sturgill and Maj Tammy Sturgill.

K3’s memory is a powerful reminder of our CAP core values of integrity, service, excellence and respect and an inspiration to integrate these values into our own lives each and every day.

Many of our members attended events celebrating K3’s life, on the weekend of 16 and 17 July 2016.  I attended and was very moved by the Final Honors ceremony at San Francisco National Cemetery, at the Presidio, where K3 was accorded full military honors and where both CAP and USAF representatives came together to speak about K3’s life of commitment and service, as well as the sacrifice that he and his family have made.

I was sorry to not have had the chance to meet K3 in life and yet I treasure the love and gratitude that so many expressed on that Sunday.  K3, you live on in the hearts of your family and many friends!

Photos from the celebration of K3’s life and from the Final Honors follow.