315th gathers for Celebration of Life -- Major Humble remembered by family, friends during memorial service Published Nov. 17, 2006 By Master Sgt. Tom Crawford 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs CHARLESTON AFB, S.C. -- With standing room only, hundreds of members of the 315th Airlift Wing gathered for a memorial service for Maj. Todd Humble in the Yonkie building auditorium Oct. 21. "He loved the blue uniform, and he loved to fly," said Col. Michael Speer, 701st Airlift Squadron commander. "He was a man that other men aspired to. He recognized the value of family and friends. He had that special bond with both." The memorial began by Colonel Speer presenting the Meritorious Service Award to Gina Humble, wife of Major Humble, for the service her husband had given to his country. Major Humble was born in Grove City, Penn., Aug. 13, 1967. He graduated from Grove City High School with honors in 1985. In 1990 Major Humble graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. During his time at Penn Sate he received an Air Force ROTC scholarship and was commissioned upon graduation. After graduating from flight school as a distinguished graduate, Major Humble was assigned to the 14th AS at Charleston Air Force Base where he served as a C-141 pilot. After five years at Charleston, Major Humble was assigned to the 58th AS, Altus Air Force Base, Okla., where his duties included teaching initial qualification C-17 pilots. During this time he also earned a Master of Arts degree in computer resource information management from Webster University. "He was my friend, a great pilot, a great officer," said Maj. Kenny Council. "We went through Altus together and then came to Charleston. I'll cherish those times we had together." In January 2000 Major Humble separated from the active-duty Air Force and joined the Air Force Reserve. In March 2001, Major Humble was hired by Delta Airlines to fly 727s but was furloughed shortly after 9/11. Major Humble worked at the C-17 Systems Program Office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in 2001, then moved to Washington, D.C., in 2004 and became the Assistant Operations Officer for the 306th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. Major Humble logged in more than 4,500 flight hours and accumulated nearly 370 combat hours during Operation Joint Endeavor, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. "We flew nine humanitarian airdrop missions together over Afghanistan," said Master Sgt. Dennis Moore, 701st AS. "When you went out on an airdrop, he was the guy you wanted in the left seat, just an all around great guy." Major Humble's awards include: Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Combat Readiness Medal, Air Force Reserve Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Services Medal and the Kuwait Liberation Medal. "He put his all into everything, friends, family and flying. He was an easy person to love and work with," said Maj. Rob House, 701st AS. "The highest integrity and professionalism in the Air Forces core values," added Maj. Brent Merritt. "Service before self. He loved the Air Force so much, he never took it for granted. He was the best C-17 pilot I ever flew with." Major Humble is survived by his wife, Major Gina Humble, and his two children -- Jacob, age 8, and Rachel, age 3.