Nearly two weeks ago, eight American soldiers and a U. S. contractor died in Afghanistan. Funeral services for one of those soldiers will take place on Monday in Tampa.

The attack is attributed to the actions of an Afghan military pilot who began shooting during a meeting at the Kabul International Airport. The attack has been called the deadliest of an Afghan turning on coalition partners.

A 20-year veteran of the U. S. Air Force, Maj0r Raymond Estelle, II, 40, was stationed at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, and deployed to Afghanistan on April 21st as an advisor to the Afghan Command and Control Center under NATO Air Training Command Afghanistan.

Major Estelle is survived by his wife, Major N’Keiba Estelle, and their 2 children, Shayla, 8, and newborn son, Raymond, III, who is 6-weeks-old.

In lieu of flowers or other gifts, the family established a college fund for the Estelle children. Those wishing to make a contribution can send them to the Air Warrior Courage Foundation, “Estelle Family 529 College Fund” ? P. O. Box 877?Silver Spring, MD 20918,?(877)921-2923. http://www.airwarriorcourage.org/

Funeral services for Major Estelle will take place on Monday, May 9th, 10 a.m., at Bell Shoals Baptist Church, in Brandon. Burial will take place at the Florida National Cemetery on Monday. There will not be a wake, but visitation will take place on Sunday, May 8th, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Ray Williams Funeral Home.