JB Lackey

JB Lackey of in Hammond, IN, was killed when the CV-22B he was flying in crashed in Afghanistan during combat operations near the town of Qalat City and Kandahar, after 24 years of faithful service to his country, doing what he loved. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Section 60, Site 9079.

He is survived by his wife, Cassie Lackey; and sons, Brandon, Alex and Nick Lackey. He leaves behind his mother, Kathleen; sister, Dorinda; uncles, Ralph (Betty) Jones, Harold (Sharon) Jones, of Greencove Springs, Fla., and Bert and Mary Lee Dodd of Vincennes; cousins, Ralph (Leann) Jones, of Greencove Springs, and Jean (Mark) Shaw of Ponteveda, Fla. He was predeceased by his father, James; and grandmother, Eloise C. Jones from Vincennes.

He grew up in Vincennes, IN and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1983. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on March 4th, 1986 and became an aircraft maintenance crew chief. In 1992, he began MH-53 Flight Engineer training and flew on the MH-53 PAVE LOW for 14 years before becoming a CV-22 Flight Engineer student in 2006. He received a Distinguished Flying Cross in 2002 for acts of heroism in combat.

JB belonged to the First Christian Church in Fort Walton Beach, FL. His loyalty and dedication have had a great effect on his family and friends and those who had the privilege of knowing him. His intense belief in integrity has been passed on to his children and will continue to be expected out of everyone who surrounded him.