Technical Sergeant Walter Moss, 37, of Houston, Texas, was assigned to the 366th Civil Engineer Squadron at the Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. His specialty was identifying and disarming explosive devices in the form of IEDs, roadside bombs, and other explosives. He died March 29, 2006, while attempting to defuse a makeshift bomb near Baghdad. After robotic attempts failed, TSgt Moss made a manual attempt. During this process the device detonated, killing him instantly.

After graduating from Aldine High School, TSgt Moss joined the Air Force in 1990 where he trained to become an explosive ordnance disposal technician. While stationed in Guam, he disposed of 12,500 pounds of hazardous World War II munitions. In Iraq, he led his team to complete 119 missions and clear 40 improvised explosive devices.

TSgt Moss “epitomized all that is good and right in our U.S. military,” Colonel Marston said. “He was a volunteer for one of the most dangerous career fields in the Air Force. He was a true patriot and inspiration to those who knew him.”

He is survived by his wife, Georgina, (his high school sweetheart whom he married right out of boot camp) and their two children, Andrew and Veronica.