Mountain Home Air Force Base member dies while loading bomb onto plane

Staff Sgt. Alexandria Mae Morrow, 25, of Dansville, New York, died in Southwest Asia while she was doing her maintenance duties in support of combat operations. MHAFB officials say she was assigned to the 366th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.

A Dansville native and Air Force member was killed during a deployment to Jordan.

Staff Sgt. Alexandria Mae Gleason Morrow, 25, was killed while performing maintenance duties in support of combat operations. Her mother, Stephanie Gleason, confirms she died while loading a bomb onto a plane. We're told something broke and the bomb slipped.

She was assigned to the 366th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.

Gleason-Morrow was a married mother of two. Her children are two and four. She graduated from Dansville High School in 2009.

 This was her second deployment. Gleason-Morrow had been in Jordan since October. 

Dansville Central Schools posted this message to their Facebook page:

"The Dansville Central Schools family is saddened to learn of the loss of Airman Alexandria Gleason-Morrow, USAF, DHS class of 2009. Alex lost her life serving our nation while on active duty in Jordan.

"Alex is remembered by classmates as "super-positive, loved by all and a person who would help anyone." She was highly regarded by teachers who recall Alex as a bright, creative and friendly student who had tremendous potential to pursue any interest and career. She was a high achiever who loved art and who established strong relationships with her teachers and classmates. Alex's mixed media piece "Chuck's" has been on display in the DHS main office since her senior year. She had aspired to become an art teacher after concluding her military career.

"In Dansville we honor all service members in life and in death. Alex took the military oath and pledged her life to defend us and the USA. We feel her loss acutely because Alex was such a bright light and she is one of our own. We are here to support her family and friends now and always.

"Alex will remain in our hearts, our prayers and our collective consciousness in perpetuity."

Jessie Negron went to high school with Alex. She says, "It is heartbreaking especially when it is someone you know and went to school with."

Negron went to Dansville High School with Alex. When she heard the news, it was hard to process at first. "She was protecting us; she was over there," Negron says. "It just clicked; it is heartbreaking; she has two kids."

Alex leaves behind a husband and two children ages two and four. While serving her country was one love for her, art was another. In fact, her senior art project still hangs in the main office of the high school.

Outside a new American flag was strung up Thursday for Alex, stopping half way to honor her sacrifice.

The Dansville superintendent says teachers that had Alex in the classroom remember her as a bubbly and positive light that shined every day. "When you look back on the high school, you graduated from and the class you came from you may remember a few people," says Superintendent Paul Alioto. "Maybe folks you didn't know well but they embodied that class. She was one of those kids."

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