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Lagajit, TSgt. Cedric Ben (retired US Air Force) In Loving Memory, Cedric Ben Lagajit met his untimely death in the early morning hours of December 13, 2017 in the home where he was raised across from the old St. Luke’s Hospital. He was 58 years old. TSgt Cedric Lagajit was the beloved only son of U.S. Army Tec4 Sergeant WWII Veteran and Mason, Bienvenido Aguilar Lagajit and R.N. Luz Paloma Velasco-Lagajit. His parents were born on the same small island of Cebu, in the Visayas Province. They met in San Francisco, California in the early 1950’s. Cedric Ben Lagajit was born in Mary’s Help Hospital on Guerrero Street (no longer there) in San Francisco on August 30, 1959. A Native San Franciscan, he went briefly to St. Anthony’s elementary school. (He punched a priest in kindergarten and was asked to leave this parochial school.) He continue his education in the public school system, starting with LeConte Public School in Bernal Heights (renamed Leonard Flynn Elementary), James Lick Middle School in Noe Valley, John O’Connell (in the Mission District) and J. Eugene McAteer High Schools. Cedric was a Boy Scout. He was adventurous. Cedric received certificates for Emergency Medical Services at John Adams Campus of CCSF, and also Cobol Data Language and Marine Biology at CCSF. There are so many certificates and awards and letters of recommendation for admirable leadership skills and for being a team player, that it would take another page to list them. Cedric Ben Lagajit always knew the military life was for him. On January 13,1980, he enlisted in the US Air Force and remained with the US Air Force Reserve for 33 years with several tours of active duty. Upon completion of basic training, he attended technical training at Sheppard AFB, TX to learn the skill of being a 60531, Air Transportation Specialist. TSgt Cedric Lagajit was proud to serve his Country. TSgt Lagajit's first unit of assignment was the 64th Aerial Port Squadron on Treason Island in San Francisco Bay. He directly supported operations in the Philippines and Operation Just Cause in Panama and the San Francisco Loma Prieta earthquake relief efforts. In 1990, he was at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany. He supported Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In 1992, there was an APS merger. TSgt Lagajit was assigned to the 55th Aerial Port Squadron at Travis AFB. 1999 to 2000 TSgt Lagajit volunteered for multiple deployments to Kuwait in support of Operation Southern Watch. His efforts there led to his award of the Air Force Commendation Medal. In 2002, TSgt Lagajit served overseas at Incerlik Air Base, Turkey and 2005, at Balad Air Base, Iraq. In 2007, at Charleston AFB. He supported Operation Enduring Freedom. He volunteered to aid FEMA in combatting the historic wildfires of Southern California. After the wildfires, he was deployed to Ali al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and again to Incerlik, Air Base, Turkey. In December 2012, TSgt Lagajit did an annual tour to Yokota, Japan. In his 33 year career, TSgt Lagajit would complete 8 deployments, countless Annual Tours, ORE's and ORI's. Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and 9 oak leaf clusters, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with 8 oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border with 1 oak leaf cluster, Air Force Longevity Service Award with 6 oak leaf clusters, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device and Silver Hourglass, Air Force Training Ribbon. Plus three letters. One from the “Governator” of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, President Bush and from President Barack Obama. Cedric Lagajit was an advid extreme sportsman. He was an archer; back country survivorist camper, cyclist; “crabber” (crab fisherman), dirt motor bike rider, fisherman, hunter, ice hockey player, kayaker, skier, mountain climber (snow or not), paintball enthusiast, scuba diver for abalone and more, snowboarder and skillful marksman and ready for the Zombie Apocalypse. The video games he liked were realistic and too complicated for me to comprehend. In his younger years, Cedric Lagajit had an entry job at Cal OSHA, while going to community college to learn COBOL data language. He was an Administrative Assistant with the U.S. Dept. of Labor. But ultimately, a desk job was not for him. He got hands-on skills lifting heavy marble and granite and became a Marble Finisher. He was employed by CalTrans for under 20 years. He enjoyed working on their boats. He was pleased to say that he worked on the new section of the Bay Bridge. Cedric Lagajit was one of the CalTrans Highway Maintenance Lead Workers that propelled off the side of the cliff at Devil’s Slide near Pacifica, CA during the creation of the Devil’s Slide (Tom Lantos) Tunnels. He was their Field Supervisor. Cedric was also a proud member of the Urban Shield Task Force. Their purpose is to protect our Bridges and Highways from terrorism. Cedric Lagajit was a Master of Trivia and a human database of San Francisco history. He also could name every classmate going back to kindergarten, name every neighbor, knew the names of their children, the names of their pets. He knew every old time established local shopkeeper in the neighborhood. He was generous, kind, open and friendly. He was righteous and “played by the rules” (because in the military, you learn to trust your squad and follow orders. You expect those you supervise to follow your orders. “You don’t bend the rules”.) His family and family of friends loved him. He will be sorely missed. Cedric Lagajit is survived by two older sisters Christina Velasco Lagajit (Landau) and Carol Hardy. UPDATE: Military Burial with Honor Guard is scheduled for Friday, March 23, 2018, 2pm at Golden Gate National Cemetery Chapel, 1300 Sneath Lane, San Bruno, California. Catholic Mass dedication will be held on Saturday, March 24,2018, 8:30am at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 221 Valley Street, San Francisco, CA
