Conrad Anthony Drain – Captain, United States Air Force

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From a contemporary press report:

Conrad Anthony Drain, a captain in the U.S. Air Force, died of an accidental gunshot wound Saturday, January 6, 1996, in Abilene, Texas. He was 27.

Captain Drain grew up in the St. Mary's of Redford Parish, where he was a Cub Scout, Boy Scout, choir member, lector and member of the youth group.

In 1985, he graduated from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy. Five years later, he graduated from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with a bachelor's degree in computer science.

After completing pilot training at Reese Air Force Base, he was assigned to Wright Patterson Air Force Base, where he was a communications engineer and Officer of the Quarter for the spring of 1993.

At the time of his death, he was a B-1B Pilot at Dyess Air Force Base.

Surviving are his parents, Walter and Denise Redmond; and grandparents, Mary Drain and Williemae Williams.

Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. Friday at the Church of St. Bede, 18290 12 Mile, Southfield. A funeral mass follows at 11 a.m.

Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.

Memorials may be made to the University of Detroit Jesuit High School, 8400 S. Cambridge, Detroit, Mich. 48221; or the United States Air Force Academy, Cadet Activities, 2302 Cadet Drive, Suite 12, USAFA/Colorado, Colo. 80840-6000.

January 12, 1996: 

CONRAD A. DRAIN, 27, an Air Force pilot who had dreamed of flying since he was a child, died of a gunshot wound Saturday at his home in Abilene, Texas. Authorities were investigating his death Thursday.

A 1985 graduate of University of Detroit High School, Mr. Drain as a youngster was a Cub Scout, a Boy Scout, a choir member and lector at St. Mary's of Redford parish in Detroit. He had realized his dream of flying when he became a pilot on a B1 bomber at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene.

When he was a boy, said Mr. Drain's mother, Denise Raymond, the family took a vacation to Disney World, but he refused to go unless they would stop at Cape Canaveral, where NASA launches missiles. He had visited the NASA mission control center in Houston and Goddard Space Center in Washington.

Every summer, he would fly on his own to an uncle's home in Maryland, and he was proud that he made the trip alone. “When he was in seventh grade, he said he was going into the Academy, and when he was in ninth grade, he said he was going to fly the B1 bomber. And he did it all,” Raymond said.

Besides his mother, Mr. Drain is survived by his stepfather, Walter Redmond; a stepsister; and his two grandmothers. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. today at St. Bede's Catholic Church, 18290 W. Twelve Mile, Southfield. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

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