U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Ronald Ouellette, of Merrimack

WASHINGTON D.C. – A non-combat accident involving an all-terrain vehicle at a central Kuwait air base has claimed the life of U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Ouellette, a Merrimack resident attached to the Massachusetts-based 42nd Aerial Port Squadron.

Department of Defense officials said in a statement that Ouellette, 23, died Monday in the all-terrain vehicle crash, which occurred at Ali Al Salem Air Base in central Kuwait.

The base houses U.S. service members largely supporting anti-Islamic State operations in Iraq and Syria.

In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Chris Sununu said that “all of New Hampshire mourns the loss of Staff Sergeant Ouellette, an American hero whose service to our country will never be forgotten.

“It is with sorrow that we have learned of the passing of Sgt. Ouellette,” Sununu wrote, adding that “our prayers are with his family.”

–DEAN SHALHOUP

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