Airmen Kick Off 450-Mile March to Honor Fallen Air Commandos Published Jan. 30, 2013 By 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs Jan. 29, 2013 -- HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. - Sixteen Airmen will kick-off a 450-mile march Feb. 3 at 9 a.m. here to honor five fallen Air Commandos. The event will begin with an opening ceremony at Hurlburt Air Park where four teams of four marchers from the 319th Special Operations Squadron, the 34th SOS, the 18th Flight Test Squadron, and the 25th Intelligence Squadron will embark on a six-day relay in memory of Lt. Col. John D. Loftis, 866th Air Expeditionary Squadron; Capt. Ryan P. Hall, 319th SOS; Capt. Nicholas S. Whitlock, 34th SOS; 1st Lt. Justin J. Wilkens, 34th SOS; and Senior Airman Julian S. Scholten, 25th IS. The team's journey, beginning on the Emerald Gulf Coast, will end at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., home of the U.S. Special Operations Command Feb. 8. Media wishing to cover the kickoff, please contact the 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs office no later than Friday noon at 850-884-7464 (off-duty hours, call 850-603-0079). When calling, please provide a complete list of names and contact number of those who will attend.