Bright, Cheerful Airman will be missed

  • Published
  • By Capt. Cathleen Snow
  • 920th Rescue Wing
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  A member of the 920th Rescue Wing's helicopter squadron here, Senior Airman Oscar R. Rivera, died in a car accident in Orlando early June 7.

The Air Force Reservist, Airman Rivera, 22, was an aviation resource manager for the Rescue Wing and a student of auto and motorcycle maintenance in his civilian life.

He was scheduled to be on duty during the June Reserve training weekend here, June 7-8, but rescheduled because his toddler became sick from a spider bite.

When on duty his coworkers said he was always smiling, laughing and making jokes. "Everyone wanted Oscar for their training partner," said Senior Master Sgt. Carla Chatman, Aviation Resource Management Superintendent, 920th RW.

He is described as an excellent worker by his direct supervisor, Staff Sgt. Argenis Sambois, Aviation Resource Management, 920th RW. He prepared flight orders for his squadron's aircrew and made sure they were flying within Air Force regulations. He was known as a stickler for accuracy. "When the aircrew saw him coming they knew their paperwork had to be right," said Sergeant Chatman. 

She said he picked up the job quickly since joining the Reserve, and the unit, two-and-a-half years ago.

His productivity didn't stop at his assigned job; he utilized all of his skills to help out. He volunteered for various roles during the Wing Operational Readiness Inspection in November 2006 as a patient survivor for the pararescuemen and as an explosive ordinance team member.

Sergeant Chatman said he was enthusiast about deploying with the unit for the first time in the upcoming months as part the Wing's current mobilization to Afghanistan.

The young Airman would have been drilling with the 920th this weekend but because of his child, he changed his schedule. "He was a great father," said Sergeant Chatman who said he called her Friday worried about his child.

She said he was two classes away from finishing technician school and looked forward to working as a mechanic.

"He liked cars and motorcycles," said Sergeant Sambois. "That was his thing. He even had them on his computer screensaver." At times he assisted coworkers with their car maintenance problems.

"The Wing has suffered a great loss with the passing of Airman Rivera. He was a bright Airman who contributed a lot in a short amount of time.  We will pray for his family and grieve with them," said Col. Steve Kirkpatrick, 920th RW Commander.

Airman Rivera is survived by his girlfriend and their toddler along with his girlfriend's three children.