Frank R. Walker, 66, an Air Force civilian supporting Operation Enduring Freedom died Oct. 28 of non-combat-related medical causes at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. Walker, of Oklahoma City, Okla., was assigned to the 72nd Civil Engineering Directorate at Tinker AFB, Okla., the Defense Department said in a release Oct. 31. The Tulsa World reported Nov. 1 that Walker died of a heart attack, citing a Tinker spokeswoman. Walker was a project construction manager with the US Army Corps of Engineers while overseas and was on his fifth trip to Afghanistan, according to the newspaper.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
