Afton Ponce - U.S. Military

Staff Sgt. Afton M. Ponce, age 28, died on January 7, 2014, in a helicopter crash in north Norfolk, England.

Afton was a member of the United States Airforce. She was one of the special mission aviators on this flight.

She and three airmen were flying in a Pave Hawk Helicopter from the 48th Fighter Wing based in Lakenheath in Suffolk. The helicopter was on a low level night training mission and was carrying live ammunition.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

There has been an American presence at RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk, since World War Two, and it is the largest United States Air Force military base in Britain.

Afton was born in Priest River, Idaho. She was from a military family. Her father was a

Saint Bernadette of Lourdes,
pray for Afton and for those who
have lost her

Marine who served in Vietnam; her brothers served in the Army and the Marines.

She graduated from Priest River Lamanna High School in 2003.

She graduated from Airman Leadership School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, in 2010.

Afton had served as a mentor at the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors camp, which helps children and families come to terms with losing a loved one.

Afton will be forever missed and mourned.

Afton is survived by many loving friends and relatives including her sisters, Erin and Leah; her brothers, Ethan and Ivan, and her husband, Andy. She was predeceased by her father, Therien.

Thank you for serving, Afton.

Pray for all who die by misadventure. They are with us one moment and gone the next. Amen.

Pray that Afton is in heaven. Pray that she is at peace and is with God. Amen.