MIAMI - U.S. Air Force Maj. Kenneth Bourland's remains were found at the Hotel Montana in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Feb. 7, after more than three weeks of the search and rescue phase of U.S. Southern Command's humanitarian disaster relief assistance began.
Bourland, 37, of Birmingham, Ala., accompanied U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Ken Keen, deputy commander of SOUTHCOM and commanding general of Joint Task Force-Haiti, during a visit to Haiti, Jan. 12, an official meeting with Haitian defense and security counterparts.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to both Mrs. Peggy Bourland and their three sons. Our U.S. Southern Command family will do everything we can to help the Bourland family during this difficult time," said U.S. Air Force Gen. Doug Fraser, commander, U.S. Southern Command. "Ken was a tremendous Air Force officer and a family man."
Bourland was among four other U.S. military personnel in Hotel Montana when the 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti. The other individuals survived.
Bourland had been listed as unaccounted for since, Jan. 12.
He is also survived by his parents, Dennis and Adrienne Bourland, of Cook Springs, Ala., and his sister Kellie Bourland.