Frankfurt shooting victim Nick Alden was a 25-year-old from South Carolina. He was married to Trish Alden, and the couple had a 1-year-old son and 3-year-old little girl. Alden's mother Cathy Garner spoke to the Associated Press, and told the news organization that she and Alden's father had served in the military together. She gave birth to her son on a base in Germany. Alden had served a six-month tour in Iraq, and was headed for another deployment in Afghanistan, leaving his wife and young children in England, where he had been stationed at Lakenheath air base. Alden's mother told the Associated Press that her son joined the air force to prepare himself for his dream job:
Garner says her son comforted her before his deployment to Afghanistan.
Airman 1st Class Zachary Cuddeback was the other servicemember killed on that bus at Frankfurt International Airport on Wednesday. Cuddeback's family and friends spoke with The Richmond Times-Dispatch, and told the paper that Cuddeback was an Army brat who joined the air force in 2009. Close friend Erin Jones said of Cuddeback:
Just as we are learning about the personal lives of these slain airman, more information is also coming out about their alleged killer, 21-year-old Arid Uka. Here's the latest on Uka from CNN:
