Elmendorf general dies of gunshot on base

Anchorage Daily News ^ | 07-28-08 | ADN

[blu]

Elmendorf general dies of gunshot on base

Air Force: Incident under investigation

Anchorage Daily News

Published: July 28th, 2008 08:26 AM Last Modified: July 28th, 2008 08:26 AM

The commander of the Third Wing at Elmendorf Air Force died of a gunshot wound in his on-base residence Sunday night, the Air Force said this morning.

Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Tinsley was declared dead around 10:30 p.m., according to a statement issued by the Air Force early this morning.

Elmendorf medical authorities responded, the statement says.

The incident is under investigation, the statement says, and no further details were provided.

[ClearCase_guy]

Rough patch for the Air Force continues ...

[blu]

Yeah, what is up with our fly guys?

[blu]

Link to his Air Force bio:
http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=10412

[norcal joe]

Air Force Spokesman says there is no indication of foul play. You know what that means...

[Paleo Conservative]

Air Force Spokesman says there is no indication of foul play. You know what that means...

Probably means he committed suicide by shooting himself in the back of the head multiple times.

[Liberty Valance]

BRIGADIER GENERAL THOMAS L. TINSLEY

Died July 27, 2008.

Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Tinsley is Commander, 3rd Wing, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The 3rd Wing provides the Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, trained and equipped tactical air supremacy assets with all-weather strike capability, command and control platforms, and strategic airlift resources for contingency operations. The wing flies the F-22A, F-15C, C-17, C-12 and E-3, and maintains a regional medical facility providing care for all forces in Alaska. The installation also hosts headquarters for the 11th Air Force, Alaskan Command and Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region as well as 41 tenant units.

General Tinsley was commissioned in 1984 through the ROTC program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and subsequently was a distinguished graduate of undergraduate pilot training. He has served as an F-15 instructor pilot, F-15C test pilot, wing weapons officer, exchange officer and instructor with the Royal Australian Air Force. He has served in the Directorate for Plans and Policy on the Joint Staff as South Asia desk officer and executive assistant to the Deputy for Political-Military Affairs for Asia Pacific and the Middle East. He has commanded the 12th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, and the 1st Operations Group, Langley AFB, Va. Prior to his current assignment, he was executive officer to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

---------------------------------
Rest in peace Gen. Tinsley

[Ben Reyes]

Domestic violence

or

someone is about to tell the press that he is wearing a decoration he does not deserve?

[PhiKapMom]

Since he was the Executive Officer to the AF Chief of Staff during the Tanker solicitation that now has to be rebid, is there more to come out on that?

[Dacula]

Maybe he knows Obama is going to be the next president.

Sad.

Prayers for the family.

[thefactor]

the simplest answer is usually the right one: he shot himself.

[Liberty Valance]

August 2005 - May 2007, executive officer to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

[catman67]

Maybe he was imitating General Jack D. Ripper??

[veracious]

Could be an accident or could be more of the rampant corrupt griping our nation due to foreign and monied interests. Ie., cover up something very smelly...

[Steve Van Doorn]

"the simplest answer is usually the right one: he shot himself."

That sounds logical but wouldn't they say, "possible suicide"?

The wording is just odd.

[OKSooner]

What a horrible thing to do to his family. He could have OD'd or asphyxiated himself and not left the horror show of a gunshot wound for his family.

In Alaska, he could have even waited a couple of months, had a few drinks and frozen himself, for that matter.

[OKSooner]

Of course, if something was really bugging him and he had the idea that things were getting out of control, he might have said something and gotten help and lived.

So what if he was about to be busted down to Airman 3rd class, he would still have been alive.

Too late now... RIP, General.

[thefactor]

naw, they say it without saying it.

my job lost a guy over in afghanistan a few weeks ago. he was serving with his reserve unit. the reason given was "non hostile action."

that means a vehicle accident or suicide. and since we have not heard anything other than that in weeks, i assume he took his life.

either the military doesn't want their image tarnished, or they are trying to ease the suffering of the families. but if they said there was no foul play that means accident or self-inflicted. what else could it be?

[vetvetdoug]

How about violation of AFR 30-30......

Because of my situation while on active duty, I had to read and sign that regulation every six months. It is the USAF regulation that has to do with bribes and contract irregularities.

[jazusamo]

Very sad. Prayers for the family.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Any word if he visited Madonna’s Apartment?

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Could of just been terminally ill

[RightWhale]

Local news also gives no further information.

[JRandomFreeper]

Yes, prayers lifted for the family.

/johnny

[blu]

Did you read the comments on ADN’s page? Man, some people don’t even let the body cool before they draw the long knives!

[Tomato lover]

That was a face I could trust. So very sorry for his family. God is the final judge.

[Danette]

I was stationed at Elmendorf 84-86.

My guess is suicide.

[vetvetdoug]

Back in 1974 the USAF Veterinary Service caught a group of DPSC and Army Inspectors taking bribes from subsistence contractors that supplied food to the military. There were about 100 military and GS members caught in the scam and the incident resulted in a Congressional Investigation and a lobby to rid the military of the USAF Veterinary service. At least three DPSC and Army members committed suicide during the investigation because of the inevitable conviction and imprisonment at Leavenworth. The Army Lobby was successful with the help of Jimmy Carter in ridding the military of the pesky USAF Veterinary Service.

[blu]

Self inflicted gunshot wound to the chest, according to ADN.

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.