An airman at the 374th Mission Support Group at Yokota Air Base in Japan died in her off-base residence, the base said last week.
Staff Sgt. Eliction Chan, the 27-year-old enlisted executive officer of the 374th, was found unresponsive at home, and pronounced dead on Oct. 1, Yokota said.
“We lost a truly valued member of our team,” Col. Otis Jones, commander of the 374th Airlift Wing, said in an Oct. 3 release identifying Chan. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends and wingmen impacted by this tragedy. Our prayers are with you in this difficult time.”
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Last month, Yokota announced that Chan had been named Airlifter of the Week. In a Sept. 12 post on Facebook, Yokota said Chan started out at the base as the non-commissioned officer in charge of passenger travel. During that time, she led a seven-airman team to process 12 emergency leave requests, which allowed Defense Department personnel and their dependents to leave Japan within 24 hours. Her team’s achievement was recognized when they received the First Sergeant’s Sharp Diamond Award.
In 2013, the 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord Air Force Base also named her Professional of the Week. Chan was from Jacksonville, Florida, and joined the Air Force in 2011, McChord said.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.
