Legacy of service: Third-generation Airman continues family mission at Kadena

Published Feb. 27, 2026
By Airman 1st Class Francisco Huerta
18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --

Long before he wore the uniform, U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Angelo Libunao walked the halls of the 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron as a child, watching Airmen prepare to launch into the Indo-Pacific skies.

Years later, he returned to those same halls - this time as a flyer.

For Senior Airman Angelo Libunao, serving with the 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron is more than just an assignment, it’s a continuation of a family legacy decades in the making.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Angelo Libunao, 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron AE technician, right, stands alongside his father, retired Senior Master Sgt. Jose Libunao, at Kadena Air Base, Feb. 19, 2026. Libunao is the third member of his family to serve in the 18th AES, continuing a legacy of aeromedical evacuation service at Kadena. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Francisco Huerta)

He is the third member of his family to serve in the squadron, following in the footsteps of his father and uncle, both former aeromedical evacuation Airmen once stationed here.

“I was really young when we were here,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Angelo Libunao, 18th AES AE technician. “I didn’t understand the jobs they were doing until I got older.”

As he matured, the stories began to carry more weight - alert calls in the middle of the night, long missions across the Pacific and the responsibility of caring for patients thousands of feet above the ocean. The mission that once seemed distant became personal.

Although Libunao began his career as a pediatric medical technician at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, he knew he wanted to follow the aeromedical evacuation path.

“It felt surreal,” he said of learning he would be assigned to Kadena. “I always knew I wanted to be a flyer. I wasn’t expecting the same unit, but I’m very grateful.”

Legacy of service: Third-generation Airman continues family mission at Kadena

Retired U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Jose Libunao, left, pins a ribbon on his son, Senior Airman Angelo Libunao, during a ceremony at Kadena Air Base, Feb. 19, 2026. Libunao now serves in the same Aeromedical Evacuation squadron where his father and uncle were assigned, continuing a family tradition of service in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Francisco Huerta)

Legacy of service: Third-generation Airman continues family mission at Kadena

U.S. Air Force Capt. David Madrid, right, 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron training flight commander, and U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Angelo Libunao, 18th AES AE technician, views a wall of past flyer’s name tags at Kadena Air Base, Feb. 19, 2026. Libunao recently joined the 18th AES, following in the footsteps of his father and uncle who also served in the unit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Francisco Huerta)

Legacy of service: Third-generation Airman continues family mission at Kadena

U.S. Air Force Col. Jeanae Jackson, 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron commander, congratulates Senior Airman Angelo Libunao during a ceremony at Kadena Air Base, Feb. 19, 2026. The event recognized Libunao’s achievements from his previous assignment and welcomed him to the 18th AES. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Francisco Huerta)

For his father, retired U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Jose Libunao, the news carried its own significance. Years earlier, he described serving in the 18th AES as the pinnacle of his medical career. Watching his son now wear the same squadron patch brings both pride and reflection.

“It’s surreal. I’m very proud,” Jose Libunao said. “Being back here brings back so many great memories.”

Squadron leadership recognized the multigenerational legacy during a ceremony welcoming Libunao to the unit and presenting him with a decoration earned at his previous assignment.

“He’s the third member of his family to serve in this squadron, so it was important for us to recognize that history,” said Capt. David Madrid, 18th AES training flight commander. “We’re excited to have him and have high expectations for his future in aeromedical evacuation.”

The 18th AES plays a critical role in operations across the Indo-Pacific. As part of the 18th Wing, the squadron provides rapid global mobility and lifesaving in-flight medical care. Aeromedical evacuation crews stand ready to transport wounded or ill service members, ensuring timely treatment while preserving combat readiness.

U.S. Air Force Col. Jeanae Jackson, 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron commander high-fives a sibling of Senior Airman Angelo Libunao following a recognition ceremony at Kadena Air Base, Feb. 19, 2026. Libunao became the third member of his family to serve in the 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, continuing a multigenerational legacy of service at Kadena. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Francisco Huerta)

For the Libunao family, that mission is more than an operational requirement - it is a shared calling. Years apart, father and son have walked the same hallways, worn the same patch and answered with the same responsibility to care for others in the air.

Now, as he completes mission qualification training, Libunao is focused on building his own reputation within the squadron, one grounded not only in family history but in personal dedication.

“I’ve got big shoes to fill,” he said. “But I’m ready to make my own mark.”

Though the name Libunao may already be familiar within the 18th AES, Angelo’s journey is uniquely his own. With each flight and each patient he supports, he adds another chapter to a story that began long before he understood its significance.

At Kadena Air Base, where readiness and service remain constant, one family’s legacy continues - carried forward by the next generation, ready to answer the call.