Community remembers firefighter

JBER Public Affairs staff report

12/20/2013 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARSON, Alaska -- On Dec. 17, base leaders, friends, family members and fellow firefighters celebrated the life of Air Force Staff Sgt. Tanner Volkers, 673d Civil Engineer Squadron, who was found dead near an Anchorage trailhead Dec. 10 after a multi-day search by fellow Airmen and the Anchorage Police Department.

The cause of death is still under investigation by the APD and Air Force Office of Special Investigations.

Volkers was last seen Dec. 7 at his home in Anchorage and was reported officially missing Dec. 8 after failing to show up at the fire department for scheduled duty.

After locating Volkers' truck near the Basher Trailhead in East Anchorage Dec. 10, searchers found a body, which was subsequently confirmed to be the missing Airman.
During the memorial ceremony, the base's top firefighter characterized Volkers' spirit and character.

"Tanner was a patriot who wanted nothing more than to serve his country," said JBER Fire Chief David Donan, 673d Civil Engineer Squadron. At the same time, Tanner discovered he had a passion for the fire service. He entered the Middleton Rural Fire District's Explorer program and eventually graduated from Firefighters Recruit Academy - allowing him to become a volunteer firefighter."

Volkers, a native of Nampa, Idaho, graduated from the Department of Defense Fire Training Academy and was assigned to JBER in January, 2010. He deployed in 2012 to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

Air Force Col. Brian P. Duffy, JBER and 673d Air Base Wing commander, expressed his sorrow at the loss of Volkers in a statement after the Airman was found.

"On behalf of all the Arctic Warriors, I want to express my deepest condolences for the loss of Staff Sgt. Tanner Volkers," said Air Force Col. Brian P. Duffy, JBER and 673d Air Base Wing commander. "Our thoughts and sympathies are with the Volkers' family, friends and the JBER community during this tragic loss."