Misawa community mourns loss of Airman

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jessica Lockoski
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Misawa community members gathered to mourn, remember and celebrate the life of Airman Robert Hasley, a 35th Maintenance Squadron precision guided munitions crew member, during a memorial service at a Collocated Club ballroom July 30.

Airman Hasley, 24, from Des Moines, Iowa, passed away while swimming in the waters of Tanahashi Cove July 24 in Northern Japan.

During the service, Maj. Todd Wydra, 35th MXS commander, spoke of the close relationship Airman Hasley had with his family and how his father referred to Hasley as a jack of all trades.

He was a skateboarder, rollerblader, bike trickster and amateur gymnast, said the major. But out of all his talents, self-taught drumming was his best, he added.

Airman Hasley enjoyed playing the drums, and in his short time at Misawa frequently practiced and played with fellow servicemembers at the Misawa's junior Airman's center.
The major also said Hasley's family said it was a dream for him to come to Japan.

Airman Hasley enlisted in the Air Force in November 2009 and graduated basic military training at Lackland AFB, Texas, in January 2010. After becoming a qualified munitions systems apprentice at Sheppard AFB, Texas, he came to Misawa for his first duty assignment on April 26.

"In the past few months we had a lot of good times here, said Senior Airman Michael Browne, one of Airman Hasley's closest friends who spoke at the service.

Airman Hasley truly experienced life and everything it had to offer, he added. He enjoyed all of it.

In the three months Airman Hasley spent at Misawa, he made a significant impact on the lives he touched everyday while on and off duty.

Airman Hasley was posthumously awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for his accomplishments with the 35 MXS munitions flight from April to July. Those accomplishments included preparing and loading 20 missiles for safe and timely delivery. He also identified and repaired 36 faulty missile couplers and recently supported the deployment of 18 F-16 aircraft to exercise REDFLAG- Alaska.

Airman Hasley is survived by his father Anthony W. Vestal and his grandmother Barbara D. Vestal.