UPDATE: Third body found in Japanese typhoon, body identified
A news release from Robins Air Force Base confirms the person as being a member of the 116th Air Control Wing.
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Robins Air Force Base officials say the body of a second Airman was recovered Tuesday morning and another is still missing in Japan after three Airmen were swept out to sea by high waves Sunday.
Pastor Andy Cook with Shirley Hills Baptist Church in Warner Robins tells 41NBC the body of the second airman is 27-year-old Joshua Schoenhoff. Cook says his family is making plans. He adds if you are interested in helping the family, you can make donations to the Shirley Hills Baptist Church.
Air Force officials are not officially releasing the name of the deceased until 24 hours after the notification of next of kin.
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The pastor of one of the missing airmen is praying for a miracle
“It’s just been catastrophic for this family and all of our hearts are hurting,” Pastor Andy Cook with Shirely Hills Baptist Church said.
Cook says 27-year-old Air Force Staff Sgt. Joshua Schoenhoff was deployed to Japan a few weeks ago. On Sunday, he and two fellow airmen were out during a typhoon taking pictures of the waves when one overpowered them and pulled them out to sea.
“When we heard that news we knew, unless Josh had been the one who had been washed away into the sea, we knew he would have gone into the water at that moment,” Cook said. “That’s the kind of young man he was trying to be.”
Schoenhoff worked as an instrument and flight control systems specialist with the 461st Air Control Wing. He is a husband and father of two young children.
Cook calls this a terrible situation for the airman’s family and the community.
“It’s kind of the worst of all options to know and not know. There’s something very bad, wrong, and you just don’t know.”
The body of Senior Master Sgt. James Swartz was recovered Sunday. Swartz was an aerospace propulsion superintendent with the 116th Air Control Wing and Georgia National Guard. Rescue crews are still looking for Schoenhoff and Master Sgt. Daniel Paschal. Paschal is an aerospace propulsion craftsman with the 116th Air Control Wing.
“Our hearts go out to the 116th and 461st members and their families during this time of loss and unknown outcomes,” Col. Kevin Clotfelter, the 116th ACW commander, said in a statement. “Please keep your thoughts and prayers of support directed toward all those affected.”
“We share in the sorrow felt by these Airmen’s loved ones,” Col. Henry Cyr, the 461st ACW commander, said in a statement. “We will do all that we can to work through this tragedy together.”
The Airmen were on temporary duty at Kadena Air Base. They were visiting the northwest coast of the island when the incident occurred.
Cook says as long as there is hope, he believes the can be found alive.
“It would be an incredible miracle if these two airmen are found, but we believe in miracles so we’re asking folks to pray.”
The U.S. Air Force and Japanese Coast Guard are searching for the missing airmen, but the weather could impact their efforts.
Typhoon Phanfone has flooded streets, triggered landslides, and brought transportation to a halt. Nearly 200,000 people were advised to evacuate because of the possibility of landslides.
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