Airman with San Clemente Ties Dies in Afghanistan

Nicholas McCaskill, a San Clemente High School alumnus and Air Force chief master sergeant, died in Afghanistan this month.

Mayor Bob Baker closed Tuesday's council meeting in honor of the airman, who he said grew up in Capistrano Beach.

A reservist with the Air Force, McCaskill had a civilian job in Afghanistan and was not in a military status at the time of his death, an official from his squadron said.

Air Force officials say they don't have details on the circumstances of McCaskill's death, but the Orange County Register reports that a commenter on a military forum stated that the Airman was killed by a suicide bomber while he was doing private security work.

The following is information from MSgt. Luke Johnson of the Tucson Air Force Base where McCaskill was stationed:

He was a member of the 306th Rescue Squadron since July 2006, which is part of Air Force Reserve Command's 943rd Rescue Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson Arizona.

He joined the Air Force in May 1992 as a Structural Maintenance Specialist and transitioned to the Pararescue career field in October of 1994.

He was not in a military status during the time of his passing in Afghanistan.

He served in the 306th RQS as a traditional reservist, which means, these members work part-time jobs for the Air Force Reserve in an area in which they choose to live. They usually serve one weekend a month and are on temporary duty (TDY) two weeks a year. These make up the majority of those in the Reserve.

The 306th RQS will be honoring the life of a great citizen airman, CMSgt Nicholas McCaskill, on Saturday, April 27 at 10:10 a.m., according to the 306th's Facebook page.

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