Project Diehard

Our Why?

SSgt Courtney Rush was a 2003 graduate of Aledo high school. Following graduation she enlisted in the United States Air Force in June 2003 just 3 days after graduation. She completed her basic training at Lack-land Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. She then completed technical training at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas and Little Rock Arkansas Air Force Base, Arkansas.

She was stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, where she was a crew chief on C1 30s.. She deployed to Kuwait for OIF. She returned and was stationed at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina where she deployed to Qatar during OEF. Her most recent position was quality control, specializing as maintenance crew chief for C17 aircraft, a position she was chosen to do by her superiors out of nearly 1500 Air-men as a result of her dedication and love for the Air Force.


On her last deployment in Qatar she was involved in transporting the caskets of fallen members that were killed in action. This was emotionally trying but a remarkably high honor duty she took very seriously.

Courtney received many honors and awards during her brief time in the Air Force. She unfortunately took her own life and died by a gunshot wound to her head on January 3, 2012, only 7 months after returning from Qatar. She was 27 years old. Courtney was not a heavy drinker, but her blood alcohol level was .357, which is lethal in itself. She should have called. Please…call someone.


* A portion of the profit goes straight to Project Diehard to support their ongoing mission.