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Wright-Patterson Air Force Base renames street for fallen airman

submitted Special Agent Matthew Kuglics, of the U.S. Air Force, was killed by an improvised explosive device on June 5, 2007 in Iraq.

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The truck belonging to Les Kuglics is a tribute to his son, Matthew Kuglics, who was killed in action as a member of the U.S. Air Force.

Ron Alvey/Dayton Daily News The truck belonging to Les Kuglics is a tribute to his son, Matthew Kuglics, who was killed in action as a member of the U.S. Air Force.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Photos: Street dedicated at WPAFB

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The Kuglics Blvd sign is unveiled by (left to right) Matthew's sister, Emily, mom, Donna and dad, Les Kuglics. This sign was erected Friday, October 23, 2009 as part of a street dedication ceremony at Barnes Memorial Park, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, in honor of Special Agent (SA) Matthew Joseph Kuglics.

Ron Alvey/Dayton Daily News The Kuglics Blvd sign is unveiled by (left to right) Matthew's sister, Emily, mom, Donna and dad, Les Kuglics. This sign was erected Friday, October 23, 2009 as part of a street dedication ceremony at Barnes Memorial Park, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, in honor of Special Agent (SA) Matthew Joseph Kuglics.

By John Nolan, Staff Writer Updated 11:05 PM Friday, October 23, 2009

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE — His family recalled Air Force special agent Matthew J. Kuglics on Friday, Oct. 23, as a determined young man who set goals for himself and followed them doggedly.

His former colleagues in the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) praised him as a selfless defender of liberty.

Kuglics, 25, an Air Force staff sergeant and OSI agent from the Canton area in northeast Ohio, was killed by the explosion of a roadside bomb near his military convoy June 5, 2007, during the second deployment he had volunteered for in Iraq.

“One of my biggest fears since June 5, 2007 is, I don’t want people to forget him, to forget what he did for this country,” his father, Les Kuglics, told reporters Friday.

The Air Force surprised the Kuglics family by naming a street in honor of Matthew and his ultimate sacrifice. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where he had been stationed from 2004 until 2006, converted the former Communications Boulevard into Kuglics Boulevard during a formal ceremony Friday.

The photograph of fallen airman Kuglics carried the words “No worries, no regrets.”

“That was the rule he lived by,” said Les Kuglics. “He would always say, 'No worries, no regrets. There’s always tomorrow.’ ”

More than 100 people, including Kuglics’ parents and sister, friends, Air Force officials and airmen who had worked with him gathered at Wright-Patterson and crowded under a tent in the rain for the renaming of the street, a few yards away.

Les Kuglics pulled a cloth cover off one of the Kuglics Blvd. signs as two other groups did the same at other signs nearby.

“We’re here today to honor a hero,” said Brig. Gen. Dana Simmons, the Air Force OSI commander. “He believed in what he was doing in Iraq. He believed in it so much, that he did it twice.”

Killed with Kuglics by the explosion in Iraq was fellow OSI agent Ryan Balmer, an Air Force technical sergeant. Hill Air Force Base, Utah, where Balmer had served, has renamed a street in Balmer’s honor. Balmer’s mother, Pat, was at Wright-Patterson on Friday to support the Kuglics family.

“If somebody needs support, I’ll be there,” Pat Balmer said.

Les Kuglics recalled his last telephone conversation with Matthew, two days before his death. Matthew mentioned that he was halfway through his six-month deployment to Iraq.

“He said, 'Yeah, Dad, 90 days down, 90 to go,’” Les Kuglics recalled. “I said, 'Be careful. I love you. We’ll talk again soon.’ ”

Emily Kuglics, 20, said she hopes the renamed street will prompt people to reflect on the price of freedom, even if they never knew her brother.

“So often, we take our freedom for granted,” Emily Kuglics said. “I hope people driving down Kuglics Boulevard take a second, or two seconds, out of their day to think that there are men and women fighting for their freedom.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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I'll walk by this sign each day as I trek from the parking lot to Bldg 266 and as I do so I'll remember all of the brave men and women serving today, just as SA Kuglics did. A fitting memorial to a fallen brother that served the Air Force and his country. May God bless the Kuglics family.

Chief Ray
7:42 AM, 10/26/2009

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To j and why - you are both out of order. This was an article about a memorial being dedicated to a brave young man and you get into a political argument. Have you no decency?

TRS
3:57 PM, 10/24/2009

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How in the world do you blame Obama for this he has been President for less than one year and this has been going on for years!!!!!! Have we all forgotten George W Bush Obama is an easy target of all of you conservative Republican Rednecks!!!!! But the story was about honoring this young man and that is what you should focus on not who's at fault for what is going on!!!!

j
12:28 PM, 10/24/2009

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Thank you WPAFB for honoring Matthew Kuglics. I am grateful for his willingness to serve. The sign will be not only a memorial to him, but also a reminder of the great sacrifice his family has made in the loss of their son.

Mary
10:55 AM, 10/24/2009

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Well done WPAFB and thank you to the Kuglics family

TRS
8:20 PM, 10/23/2009

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