Joel Gentz
Captain, United States Air Force
July 9, 1984 – June 9, 2010
Age – 25
Grass Lake, MI
Operation Enduring Freedom
58th Rescue Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, NV
Died when insurgents shot down his HH-60G Pave Hawk in Afghanistan
CPT Gentz died when his helicopter crashed as the airmen, assigned to 563rd Rescue Group, were performing a medical-evacuation mission in turbulent Helmand province. “These airmen and their other rescue teammates are highly trained to perform life-saving missions in various situations. Protecting our nation’s sons and daughters is a sacred trust and we take that responsibility seriously.” embody the rescue motto, ‘These things we do, that others may live,’ and were on a life-saving mission. The helicopter was providing support to British troops at the time of the attack, according to The New York Times. The newspaper, quoting a Taliban spokesman, said insurgents shot down the helicopter over the Sangin district bazaar with a rocket-propelled grenade.
“It’s a big deal every time we lose someone,” Brig. Gen. Frderick B. Hodges, one of the top American commanders in southern Afghanistan, told The Washington Post. “But this is more of a jolt. The medevac crews are some of the bravest people in the world. Just by the nature of what they do, they’re always moving into danger.”
Captain Joel Gentz was a Combat Rescue Officer, a member of an elite group of individuals, whose mission is to recover injured or downed troops from all branches, and provide emergency medical treatment to save lives.
To his younger sister, Rachel Gentz, Joel Gentz was a nerd in high school. He was a member of the marching band, and more specifically the drum line. He was obsessed with all things related to flight and dreamed of being an astronaut. Joel was also an outdoors-man enjoying hiking and backpacking with his family and as a Boy Scout. Joel graduated high school in 2002 and with events of 9/11 fresh in his mind, decided he wanted to enlist. His parents convinced him to go to college first and potentially become a military officer. Joel went on to attend Purdue University with an Air Force ROTC scholarship in hopes of becoming a pilot. Joel was the Cadet Wing Commander at Purdue. He was honored four years running with the Warrior Spirit award, elected by his ROTC class. He was also a member of the Arnold Air Society. He graduated in 2007 with a degree in Aerospace Engineering and was accepted to the U.S. Air Force’s pilot training. However, Joel had been exposed to the difficult training of the USAF Pararescue and had a new dream. Joel turned down his chance to fly to become a Combat Rescue Officer, and take on their wholesome mission of saving lives. He was the first ROTC cadet to be accepted into the training program.
On June 7th, 2008 Joel was married to his wife Kathryn. The pictures of their wedding day are filled with smiles – actually all of Joel’s pictures are filled with his humongous smile. His sister Rachel said the military could never take away his sense of humor.
Pararescue training is some of the most rigorous and difficult in the military. Looking back, his sister Rachel remembers Joel doing things “just to see if he could.” For example, on a backpacking trip Joel came across a 120 foot nautical line, weighing about 40lbsthat he decided he wanted. He coiled it, tied it to his backpack and carried the extra weight for the remainder of the trip. His enthusiasm to find his limits and go beyond made Pararescue a great fit. Captain Joel Gentz successfully completed Pararescue training and was excited to deploy. Joel always downplayed the dangers of his job to his family. He told them he was an officer, and that he was well trained to do his job. These things were very true; however, he didn’t go into the details that his “job” included jumping from perfectly good airplanes into hot combat zones to rescue wounded soldiers.
He left for his first deployment in April 2010 to Afghanistan. Six weeks into his deployment, on June 9th, 2010 Joel Gentz, 25, was killed in action when his helicopter was struck with multiple RPGs. Joel’s team on Pedro 66, was landing to assist a wounded British troop in Afghanistan. Four other airmen lost their lives as a result of the crash. There were only two survivors, Master Sergeant Aguilera, the door gunner, and the co-pilot, Captain Simone. Both of these gentlemen have stayed in contact with the Gentz family.