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Scott building renamed in honor of special agent

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Amber R. Kelly-Herard
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  On Nov. 1, 2007, Special Agents Thomas Crowell, David Weiger and Nathan Schuldheiss were in a vehicle near Balad Air Base, Iraq that was struck by an improvised explosive device killing all three of them.

Agent Crowell, who was assigned to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Detachment 301, at Scott Air Force Base, was the first Airman from Scott to be killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Last Friday, the agents from AFOSI Det. 301 dedicated their building to Agent Crowell by renaming it the Thomas Crowell Building.

"We are proud to honor Agent Crowell," said Col. Wil Urquhart, AFOSI Det. 301 commander. "He was an excellent Airman who was known as a mentor with innovative problem solving skills."

Agent Crowell, a Neosho, Mo., native, became an agent in 2002. He came to Scott in 2005 where he served as the superintendent.

Col. Urquhart explained that the superintendent acts as the No. 2 man in the detachment. As superintendent, he was in charge of 12 agents. He helped direct drug investigations and neutralize threats for the 375th Air Mobility Wing, Air Mobility Command headquarters and U.S. Transportation Command.

"He was also able to empathize with people," said the colonel. "When he was in Iraq, he wrote to his wife asking her to send soccer balls and school supplies to give to the local children."

Some of his other achievements include training seven agents, helping direct and lead a five-person counterintelligence team for the 2005 Operational Readiness Inspection, providing protective services for the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and raising $14,000 for the Operation Warm Heart fund. Agent Crowell's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the joint Service Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Achievement medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Combat Action Medal and an Air Force Achievement Medal.

Agent Crowell is survived by his wife and two sons.