I don't remember Steve at A&M as he was an Air Force Senior when I was an Army fish. I switched to the AF my last semester. I met Steve and got to know him at George AFB where he was in the class ahead of me in F-4 training. We both had orders to go to the 8 TFW at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, although me a month or so later after graduating.
On January 4, 1973, Steve was flying AC-130 gunship escort over Laos. The gunships were very deadly to the Gomers but were also pretty vulnerable to AAA, so missions were flown at night. The escort's job was for flak suppression if the guns came up. They rolled in on.a gun but were hit while pulling off target. Both crew members ejected successfully. They talked to each other on their survival radios while in the chutes. They landed not far from each other. His pilot made his way to Steve but found him unconscious with a large tree limb on top of him. He apparently had broken his neck and died after about 15 minutes. The Gomers were all around, so the pilot moved to a better hiding place and was rescued.
Steve's body was never recovered. I check periodically on the DPAA website but no progress has been made. I remember him, especially on this day, 49 years to the day later. I'm not sure Rest in Peace is the right wish until his body is hopefully recovered some day.
His name is on the memorials at the entry to the Quad and the glass wall at the MSC.
I wanted to share this tribute and remembrance, on this day, of an Aggie who gave it all.
Here!
On January 4, 1973, Steve was flying AC-130 gunship escort over Laos. The gunships were very deadly to the Gomers but were also pretty vulnerable to AAA, so missions were flown at night. The escort's job was for flak suppression if the guns came up. They rolled in on.a gun but were hit while pulling off target. Both crew members ejected successfully. They talked to each other on their survival radios while in the chutes. They landed not far from each other. His pilot made his way to Steve but found him unconscious with a large tree limb on top of him. He apparently had broken his neck and died after about 15 minutes. The Gomers were all around, so the pilot moved to a better hiding place and was rescued.
Steve's body was never recovered. I check periodically on the DPAA website but no progress has been made. I remember him, especially on this day, 49 years to the day later. I'm not sure Rest in Peace is the right wish until his body is hopefully recovered some day.
His name is on the memorials at the entry to the Quad and the glass wall at the MSC.
I wanted to share this tribute and remembrance, on this day, of an Aggie who gave it all.
Here!
F4GIB71
