Columbus AFB medical clinic renamed

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Ryan Wells
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. --  Columbus AFB held a ceremony today renaming the base clinic in honor of Major Thomas Flagg Koritz, a former pilot-physician in the United States Air Force. 

Major Koritz was a medical doctor who joined the Air Force through Officer Training School, and graduated with Distinguished Graduate honors from pilot training at Columbus AFB in 1981. While in pilot training, Dr. Koritz spent his weekends working in area hospitals, returning to pilot training each Monday morning. He later performed his residency in San Antonio and was selected as one of only five actively flying pilot-physicians. He was assigned to an F-15E Strike Eagle squadron during the Gulf War, where he was shot down in January of 1991 over Basra, Iraq, and killed in action. 

In attendance at the ceremony Friday were commanders from around the base and Air Education and Training Command headquarters, including the AETC Command Surgeon, Col. Mark Ediger, the AETC Chief of Aerospace Medicine Division Col. Louis Eldredge, and the Chief of the Medical Enlisted Force, Chief Master Sgt. James Gudaitis. Auspiciously absent were the family members of Major Koritz. Due to the inclement weather Jan. 10, they were unable to make the flight from Chicago. 

"Naming this clinic after Major Koritz serves to honor this rare Air Force aviator and physician," reflected Col. Dave Gerber, 14 Flying Training Wing commander. "He gave his life for his country and our freedom."