US airman killed in non-combat-related incident in Africa

A U.S. airman was killed final week at a base within the West African nation of Niger, the Protection Division mentioned Monday. 

Employees Sgt. Dennis F. Melton, 27, died Friday in a “non-combat associated incident” on the Nigerien Air Base 101 in Niamey. The Pentagon didn't elaborate on particulars relating to the incident, saying solely that the case remained beneath investigation.

Melton, a local of Waverly, Tennessee, was assigned to the twentieth Safety Forces Squadron, which is liable for the security at Shaw Air Drive Base, situated about 35 miles east of Columbia, South Carolina. 

He was deployed in Niger with the 768th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron, Protection officers mentioned

“The US Air Drive is deeply saddened to announce the demise of an Airman who was deployed with the 768th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron,” the Air Drive mentioned in an announcement to Columbia’s WIS-TV.

The squadron falls beneath the Germany-based 435th Air Expeditionary Wing, which has three squadrons in Niger that assist counterterrorism operations, intelligence, and coaching, in accordance with Stars & Stripes, the navy information outlet. 

In 2017, the area gained extra widespread consideration following an ambush in Niger that killed 4 U.S. service members. 

Melton was assigned to Shaw Air Drive Base in 2017 after he entered energetic obligation in 2016, the twentieth Fighter Wing, a bunch unit on the base, instructed Stripes. 

Melton’s demise was felt “all through your entire Defender household,” said Main Kevin Collett, commander of the twentieth Safety Forces Squadron, citing the title that safety forces airmen are generally known as, in accordance with Stripes.

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