Senior Airman Joshua-Daniel James Austin

Senior Airman Joshua-Daniel James Austin, native of Somerville, stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Cascade County, Montana died June 23, 2012 at the Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. He was 27 years of age and died from injuries received in a motorcycle accident.

Services for Airman Austin were at 10 Friday morning, July 6, 2012 at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Bro. Phil Lovelace of Memphis, former pastor of the Somerville First Baptist Church officiating. Interment with Full Military Honors was in the Broken E Cemetery in the Cedar Grove Community of Carroll County, Tennessee. Arrangements were provided by the Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center – West Chapel at Oakland.

Joshua-Daniel Austin was born on 29 March 1985 in Somerville, Tennessee, and is the son of Tammy Spain-Austin.  He was raised by his mother and stepfather, Pat Austin, as well as his grandparents.

Thanks to his uncle Rusty, Josh discovered at a young age that he loved training and caring for horses.  He enlisted in the Air Force on 27 January 2004 and attended the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC) Apprentice Course at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.

Following basic and technical training, Airman Austin’s first assignment was with the 65th Civil Engineer Squadron at Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal.  While assigned, his hard work and dedication to the mission earned him the prestigious Operations Flight’s “Outstanding Craftsman of the Month” award and helped the flight win the United States Air Forces in Europe “Operations Flight of the Year” for 2004.  Airman Austin culminated a successful assignment and was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal for meritorious service before departing for a second tour at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.

During this assignment, Airman Austin served as an HVAC Journeyman and a motivated member of the 82d Civil Engineer Squadron.  It was here that Josh’s love for the outdoors and horses changed his life when he met Cosette “Cosey” Craft and began working on training her horse.  From there their relationship grew and they later married in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  On 15 May 2008, Josh became the proud father of their first son, Jonah.  With the support of a loving wife and family, Josh continued to excel in his duties and received praise from his supervisors.  In particular, he was instrumental during the transfer of in-house maintenance and repair operations to contract services.  Airman Austin earned the respect of his co-workers as he routinely put the need of others before his own.  True to his character, and on the final work shift before the contract was transferred, he volunteered to be the on-call emergency response technician so his co-workers could enjoy time with their family and friends.

In August of 2009, after a brief tour in Texas, the Austin family moved to Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, where they immediately fell in love with the “Big Sky Country”.  Josh enjoyed his work as well as the high operations tempo of the 341st Civil Engineer Squadron.  Without hesitation, he jumped in with both feet and instantly began to make a difference as a member of the wing’s Emergency Management Support Team and served as the Contamination Control Team Chief.  In November of 2010, he deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.  Shortly after his departure, on Christmas Eve of 2010, his second son, Jacob, was born.  Upon reuniting with his wife and now two sons, Josh continued to lead the Emergency Management Support Team where they were recognized as a “Superior Team” during the 2011 Nuclear Surety Inspection.

Josh also loved his community and gave back by volunteering many hours to construct playground equipment for the new Family Fun Zone at the Malmstrom Fitness Center.  His selfless efforts provided military families with a safe indoor recreational area that could be used year-round.

Joshua-Daniel Austin was a true family man; always focused on raising his boys Jonah and Jacob, and caring for his wife Cosey.  He was a truly good natured, family loving, outdoorsman, and southern gentleman.  Josh will be sincerely missed, but remembered always in the hearts and minds of the people who knew him, loved him and served beside him.

Joshua is survived by his wife, Cosette “Cosey” Craft Austin of Great Falls, Montana; two sons, Jonah Matthew Austin and Jacob Dean Austin, both of Great Falls, Montana; his parents, Pat and Tammy Austin of Somerville; his brother, Caleb Austin of Somerville; his grandparents, James Cecil Spain and Dean B. Spain of Somerville; and his uncle, Robert “Rusty” Essary of Henderson.