Today, we grieve the passing of a true hero and friend, Alan Yoshida.
Alan was instrumental in the very foundation of the Combat Control Foundation, and his impact on our fundraising capabilities remains immeasurable. His dedication extended far beyond mere financial contributions. He and his family attended the first two fundraisers, his daughter tirelessly managed the bar, and his wife captured precious memories – all in a selfless effort to support the community. The Foundation's early success wouldn't have been possible without Alan's unwavering commitment.
Alan's humility shone brightly. He truly embodied the spirit of the Combat Control community, valuing camaraderie and teamwork above all else. His wish to be surrounded by his brothers in arms speaks volumes about his character. He didn't crave accolades or grand gestures – his focus remained steadfast on the mission and the well-being of his fellow warriors.
Beyond his dedication to the Foundation, Alan nurtured relationships that constantly strove to advance the careers and opportunities of the Combat Control community. His vision and leadership have left an indelible mark on the lives of countless individuals.
Though he may be gone, Alan's legacy will live on. His unwavering spirit of service, unwavering humility, and unwavering dedication to the Combat Control brotherhood will continue to inspire generations to come.
We offer our deepest condolences to Alan's family and friends. May his memory be cherished forever and may his commitment to serving others be a guiding light for us all.
The following obituary for Alan T. Yoshida has been released to us by his family. The family also gave permission to us to post publicly and on our social media channels.
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On 9 December 2023, Alan Tatsuo Yoshida, loving husband, father, son, brother, and warrior passed away at age 51.
Alan was born in Mililani, Hawaii on 27 October 1972, to Ronald and Nina Yoshida. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1991 where he faithfully and proudly served his country for 28 years as a Combat Controller. Alan raised three beautiful children of whom he was extremely proud—his daughter Sydney, and his sons Noah and Trevor. Through them, his legacy lives on.
On 15 April 2015, he married the love of his life, Sarah. Together they enjoyed traveling the world and going on adventures.
Alan was a graduate of Norwich University and later served as the Strategic Accounts Executive for Parraid LLC. Alan chose to work for Parraid because the company empowered him to dream big and enabled him to transform his ideas into reality.
Alan’s interests were many. He was an artist, a technologist, a visionary, a warrior, and a dreamer. He loved little kids and Izzy dog. He tolerated Yeager. His passions included surfing, parachuting, hunting, fishing, and working on his land in Hondo. Alan truly loved his career. Although it left him in great pain, he never regretted a minute of his service and would do it all over again if he could. He was born to be an operator and was one of the best there ever was. He truly loved his brothers in arms and used his gifts and genius to improve their lives, safety, and survivability. But most of all, Alan loved and cherished his family. He was the happiest just spending time with his kids and Sarah. Give him a good cuddle and he was content.
Alan was preceded in death by his father Ronald. He is survived by his wife Sarah, his daughter Sydney Price, his sons Noah and Trevor, his mother Nina, his brother Dale, his sister Ann, and his nephew Joshua.
A memorial service was held for Alan on 16 December 2023 at 1400 in Hondo, TX.
In lieu of flowers we ask that donations be made to the Combat Control Foundation or bring a tree to plant in his orchard.
Donations can be made here in memory of Yosh: https://www.combatcontrolfoundation.org/donate
Team, for those who couldn't attend Yosh’s memorial on Dec 16, we ran a live feed, and you can view it below:
** UPDATED January 27, 2024 - Summarized memorial service
Alan Yoshida was also the recipient of the Silver Star. Click the button below to learn more about his actions in combat.