The Air Force community said a final goodbye to Senior Airman Roger Fortson on Monday at Hurlburt Field in Okaloosa County, .
The 23-year-old gunship gunner was shot and killed by an Okaloosa deputy this month.
During a memorial service, Lt. Col. Kalin Thistlewood, with the 4th Special Operations Squadron, expressed his sympathies to Fortson’s mother.
“I can only hope that immense this pain, that you find comfort in the contributions that your son gave," he said. "And how he is remembered within our military community and this flying community.”
Officials presented his family with the Air and Space Commendation Medal, an award given only to airmen who’ve distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement and service.
"Roger is exceptional," said Capt. Malcolm Lee, an AC-130 evaluator pilot who served with Fortson for four years. "Because even in this tragic event that has divided a nation, he has managed to bond together our community, our Air Force and people all around the globe through love."
Hundreds of people, including military personnel, also attended a funeral for Fortson on Friday near Atlanta.
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