Joint Base Balad -- JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- The memorial service held Oct. 27 at Town Hall here started with a roll call. A senior NCO with the 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron called out names of Airmen in the Phase Inspection Section, and each Airman stood and answered "present."

All but one.

"Sergeant Hause," the master sergeant called, but no one answered. "Staff Sergeant Hause." Again, silence. "Staff Sergeant Brian Hause."

Town Hall remained quiet, for Staff Sgt. Brian Hause was no longer among his wingmen.

Hause, an assistant NCOIC in the 332nd EMXS Phase Dock, died Oct. 23 from non-combat related medical causes. A co-worker found him unresponsive on the floor of his room at about 9 p.m. that day. Medics transported him to the Air Force Theater Hospital here but could not revive him. He was pronounced dead at approximately 9:30 p.m.

Chief Master Sgt. Edward Montgomery, chief enlisted manager for the 332nd EMXS, read from Psalms 23. Afterward, Chaplain (Capt.) Douglas Collins delivered a memorial meditation.

"I have to be honest with you -- during times like this, even though my shepherd says I shall not want, I find myself wanting," Collins said. "I find myself wanting the friendship of the one who's gone."

Hause, 29, was a native of Stoystown, Pa., and attended Johnstown Christian School in nearby Hollsopple, Pa. He joined the Air Force in December 2001 and deployed to Joint Base Balad from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., with his unit in early October. His untimely death left his wingmen in the 332nd EMXS puzzled and mourning.

"We're all hurt. I could see it the other night, whether it be in the hospital or speaking to many of you," Collins said. "There's hurt, and it's okay to hurt. It's okay to cry. It's okay to remember those things that make us uncomfortable."

Hause was dedicated to his job, said Maj. Brian Godfrey, the 332nd EMXS commander. He was a good trainer, always willing to teach junior Airmen more about aircraft maintenance.

"A day or two after Brian's arrival, I went to the phase section where he worked and met him and his co-workers," Godfrey said. "It was clear to me after spending just a few moments with them that they were a tightly knit group.

"That fact became clearer Friday afternoon when we sent Brian home. ... As the aircrew prepared to depart, I noticed that the only people remaining were those who were closest to Brian, leaning on one another for support," the major continued. "They wanted to stay with him as long as they could."

Hause also had a way with people and built camaraderie wherever he went.

"He had an uncanny ability to make the whole section smile," recalled Staff Sgt. Amos Tolson, Hause's supervisor. "No matter how dirty, tired, hungry or sweaty we were, he knew what to say. Every day, he was always the first one there and the last to leave. On the days when we were rebuilding jets, and it looked like that jet would never fly again, Hause would make it happen."

Hause made a mark on the people he met. One of his wingmen, Senior Airman Jason Watkins, remembered a fun moment the two had shared while stationed in Alaska.

"He convinced me that we should have a welcome party," Watkins said. "So we gathered all our flightline personnel and had a get-together. Through the night, we had some good times."

Hause mentored Watkins, helping him move to Shaw AFB and teaching him how to ride a motorcycle safely. But the NCO's real passion was his children, Alexis and Cody, Watkins said.

"He once told me that when he played electric guitar, his son would break out his little electric guitar, and they would just jam out for hours," Watkins said.

"He'd brag about his children and share stories about them back at work," Godfrey said. "He was caring, compassionate, very well-liked and respected. He will be dearly missed by his friends, his co-workers and his entire squadron."

Collins encouraged those who remember Hause to share with others the happiness that he shared with them.

"Someone asked me, 'How do I remember him?'" Collins said. "The answer is that you get up, you do your mission, you go home, and you remember the impact he made on your life -- you hold those memories tight. And if you never met him, and you're here tonight out of respect, then go and do something for others to help them remember that we all go through this life together."

As the service concluded, Godfrey presented Hause with a posthumous Air Force Commendation Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal.

"I'll always remember him, and I hope you will find somebody who will touch your life as he touched mine," said Watkins, fighting tears.

"I appreciate the time I got to spend with Hause," Tolson said. "It saddens me that he won't be going home with us, and I thank God for his friendship."