Adjutant General issues statement on loss of North Dakota National Guard Airman in McHenry County crash

Photo by: North Dakota National Guard
Photo by: North Dakota National Guard

(Fargo, ND) -- Major General Al Dohrmann, North Dakota's adjutant general, has issued a statement regarding the death of a North Dakota National Guard Airman, 2nd Lieutenant Christopher Brewer.

“On behalf of the Airmen and Soldiers of the North Dakota National Guard, we offer our sincerest condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of 2nd Lt. Christopher Brewer”, said Dohrmann. “A true patriot, Christopher was the epitome of a citizen-Airmen, serving his nation in uniform and his community as a teacher.”

According to the North Dakota Highway Patrol, Brewer was killed on January 22nd in a two-vehicle accident on Highway 52 north of Velva, North Dakota.

“Our Hooligan family deeply mourns the loss of Christopher Brewer,” said Colonel Mitch Johnson, 119th Wing commander. “Our thoughts and prayers are with him as we provide full support to his family, friends and fellow Airmen. His loss is deeply felt within the North Dakota Air National Guard.”

A resident of Velva, Brewer enlisted in the North Dakota Air National Guard in 2005 and served as an avionics technician with the 119th Maintenance Squadron, a personnel specialist with the 119th Force Support Squadron and the 219th Security Forces Squadron, and a first sergeant with the 119th Medical Group. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 2022 and served with the 219th Security Forces Squadron, Minot Air Force Base.

He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Minot State University in 2019 and an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Human Resource Management from the Community College of the Air Force in 2017.

In his full-time civilian occupation, Brewer was a teacher at Bishop Ryan Catholic School in Minot.

The driver of the other car in the crash has also been identified as 32-year-old Robb Labonte.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Thompson-Larson Funeral Home of Minot.