Afghanistan death under investigation - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times

Afghanistan death under investigation

Master Sgt. Patrick Magnani was not the kind of person to sit around, his mother recalled.

Magnani’s 18 years in the Air Force had taken him to Greenland, Korea, Spain, England, Italy, Iraq and, in July, to Afghanistan, where for reasons now under investigation, Magnani, 38, died Sept. 4.

A statement from U.S. headquarters in Afghanistan said Magnani was found dead from a “non-combat injury” at a base in Paktya Province, a region about 75 miles south of Kabul.

Magnani’s family in California said the Air Force told them Magnani was shot.

“No matter how he died, he died in the service of his country,” Magnani’s mother, Jeanne, said from her home in Martinez, Calif.

Magnani was assigned to an Army-led transition and training team working with the Afghan military and civilians to improve medical and other services.

Before deploying for Afghanistan, Magnani was assigned to the 31st Medical Support Squadron at Aviano Air Base, Italy, where he was the noncommissioned officer in charge of repairing medical equipment, an Aviano spokesman said. In Afghanistan, Magnani was the training team’s medical equipment officer.

From Aviano, where Magnani had been expected to return once his Afghan tour was complete, his squadron commander, Lt. Col. Troy McGilvra, sent the sergeant’s family a note that tried to sum up Magnani’s service.

“Pat was a true professional, a model airman and absolutely one of the best leaders in my squadron,” McGilvra wrote. “He was a friend to many. I was always impressed with his positive outlook.”

McGilvra recognized a trait Magnani’s family knew well — his urge to get out and see the country where he was based. “We often compared notes on great local restaurants — and of course Belgian beer,” the lieutenant colonel wrote.

In recognition of Magnani’s record, he was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

Magnani grew up in the San Francisco area and graduated from high school in 1989.

Two years later, he surprised his family by enlisting with the Air Force. He sewed on master sergeant stripes in 2006.

As of Sept. 6, funeral arrangements were pending. A memorial service at Aviano was set for Sept. 7.