Officials with the Iowa National Guard have confirmed today (Friday) 49-year old Staff Sgt. Cory A. Mildenstein of Sioux City, died after drowning in the Atlantic Ocean while swimming near Aquadilla, Puerto Rico on Wednesday, April 4^th.

Staff Sgt. Cory A. Mildenstein

Mildenstein, a member of the Civil Engineering Squadron, 185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard based in Sioux City, was conducting construction projects upgrading military facilities in Puerto Rico at the time of the accident. 

Mildenstein was born in Cherokee, and graduated from Sioux City East High School in 1981. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in October 1985. Following graduation from Basic Training, he attended the Electronic Warfare Systems Specialist Course and was then assigned to George Air Force Base, CA. He joined the Iowa Air National Guard in October 2005 and was named honor graduate of his Structural Maintenance course. Mildenstein previously deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan as part of the Iowa Air National Guard Civil Engineering team in 2011. 

The family of Staff Sgt. Cory A. Mildenstein issued the following statement: “Cory always had a smile on his face and space in his heart for everyone. He was very proud of his children Amber, April and Zac. He loved spending time with family and friends and he was always willing to help with a home repair, or car project.” 

Funeral arrangements are pending.