Major Randell D. Voas, U.S. Air Force, was killed on April 9, 2010, near Kandahar, Afghanistan, when the CV-22 he was piloting crashed during combat operations near the town of Qalat City.

Major Voas was one of the Air Force's most experienced and skilled V-22 "Osprey" pilots and his contributions to Air Force Special Operations Command and his country are immeasurable.

Major Voas was born in 1967 at the Camp Kue U.S. Army Hospital in Okinawa. He grew up in Eden Prairie and graduated in 1985 from Eden Prairie High School, where he ran track and cross country. In 1989, he attended the University of Minnesota and received a bachelor's degree in biology.

Following college, Randy married his one and only love, Jill Saniti-Hippe, in 1991, and shortly thereafter started his military aviation career in the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Flight Training Program at Fort Rucker, Ala.

Following completion of flight school, Randy reported to Fulda, Germany, as an AH-64 Apache pilot with several aviation regiments. During his time in Germany he served as an aircraft commander and supported numerous NATO missions. Following his assignment in Germany, Maj. Voas served with the elite 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell and the 5-501 at Camp Eagle, Korea. During his Army career, Randy received numerous military awards and honors and participated in countless DoD operations.

In 2000, Major Voas was among a select group of Army pilots to transfer into the U.S. Air Force to fly the MH-53 "Pavelow." Upon completion of Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base he was assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron in Mildenhall, England.

During the opening days of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Major Voas led a flight of two MH-53s on a demanding combat mission into northern Iraq in support of the largest airdrop since Vietnam. For his heroic actions he was awarded the Cheney award, which was presented by the Air Force Chief of Staff in 2003.

Following his assignment in England, Major Voas was assigned the 23rd Flight Training Squadron as an Air Force instructor pilot, teaching and mentoring countless future Air Force helicopter pilots. In 2006, Major Voas was hand-picked as an initial cadre instructor pilot for the new CV-22 "Osprey" program. His talents and leadership abilities were recognized with this appointment and he was assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla. While at the 8th, Major Voas served as a flight commander and evaluation pilot participating in operations "Iraqi Freedom" and "Enduring Freedom."

Major Voas was a beloved son, husband, father and friend. During his 19 years of military service he accomplished a remarkable amount for both Army and Air Force aviation. His final moments were a testimonial to all that he represented in life when he demonstrated his heroism by saving the lives of 16 fellow comrades. Although his life was taken prematurely, his legacy will live forever through his family and the men and women that he so graciously took under his wing.

Randy's undying support for his wife of 18 years, children and extended family, coupled with his integrity, intellect and commitment to his country barely underscore the man we all knew and loved.

He is survived by loving wife, Jill Voas (Saniti-Hippe); daughter, Maddeline; son, Mitchell of Shalimar, Fla.; mother and stepfather, Jo and Larry Kallemeyn of Spearfish S.D.; father and stepmother, Dwaine and Vadis Voas of Burnsville, Minn.; and brother, Jeffrey A. Voas of Seattle.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, John and Opal Beatty, and Clarence "Dick" and Catherine Voas; and Jill's parents, Dean and Jean (Schwab) Hippe; and grandparents, Paul and Lena Schwab.

Dwaine Voas recalled, "Randy was a pilot with Air Force Special Operations during the largest air drop of the 101st Airborne in Iraq, earning him the prestigious Cheney Award (named after AF 1st Lt. William Cheney who was killed in 1918). Randy died doing what he loved doing, and what he thought was right."

Source: Arlington National Cemetery