cross-posting on several boards because there is more to Memorial Day than just being off work and barbequeing.

In Memory of:
John H.Craig, JR (aka Buddy) '56 25AUG1998 Franklin, Texas (from complications due to his Navy service during the Korean War)
SFC Paul R. Smith MOH 4APR03 Baghdad, Iraq
SSG Lincoln D. Hollinsaid 7APR03 Baghdad, Iraq
PFC Jason M. Meyer 7APR03 Baghdad, Iraq
SGT Curt E. Jordan 28DEC03 FOB Speicher, Iraq
SGT Ryan M. Campbell 4APR04 Baghdad, Iraq
SPC Isaac M. Nieves 8APR04 Bani Saad, Iraq
SPC James L. Beckstand 29APR04 Baghdad, Iraq
PFC Norman Darling 29APR04 Baghdad, Iraq
PFC Jeremy R. Ewing 29APR04 Baghdad, Iraq
SPC Justin B. Schmidt 29APR04 Baghdad, Iraq
SGT Michael L. Boatright 4DEC04 Baghdad, Iraq
SGT Dominic R. Coles 26DEC05 Baghdad, Iraq
SPC Antoine J. McKenzie 21MAR06 Baghdad, Iraq
CPL Robert L. Jones 17JUN06 Ar Ramadi, Iraq
SGT Reyes Ramirez 17JUN06 Ar Ramadi, Iraq
CPL Ryan J. Clark 29JUN06 Brook Army Medical Center, FT Sam Houston, Texas
SSG Omar D. Flores 8JUL06 Ar Ramadi, Iraq
CPL Troy C. Linden 8JUL06 Ar Ramadi, Iraq
CPL Joseph P. Micks 8JUL06 Ar Ramadi, Iraq
SGT Al'Kaila T. Floyd 13JUL06 Landstuhl, Germany
SGT Allen R. Bevington 21SEP06 Ar Ramadi, Iraq
SGT John A. Carroll 21SEP06 Ar Ramadi, Iraq
SGT John Mele 14SEP07 Arab Jabour, Iraq
SGT James A. McHale 30JUL08 Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Bethesda, Md
CPL Carlo E. Alfonso 26AUG08 Baghdad, Iraq
SPC Ja'mel A. Bryant 27SEP08 Baghdad, Iraq
SPC Alexis V. Maldonaldo 21AUG10 Kandahar, Afghanistan
PFC Adam E. Dobereiner 18NOV11 Kandahar, Afghanistan

MAJ (RET) Marvin D. Bentley 5MAr2015 Army Air Corps, Army Air Force, and Air Force Veteran
MAJ (RET) J.W. CHISM 31MAR2020 (from complications caused by his 3 deployments to Vietnam)
Don Tepera 23SEP2021 Franklin, Texas (from complications due to his service in the Navy during The Vietnam War)
SSG John H. Craig, III (aka JC, aka AGGIE12B)'88 TBD

RIP MY BROTHERS! You are not forgotten!
SEE Y'ALL ON THE OTHER SIDE

There are a lot of days when I would willingly trade places with just about everyone on this list. The exception being the first name on the list because no parent should outlive their kids.

Maj. Robert A. Richards, USAF Boeing B-52H-175-BW Stratofortress pilot 02-NOV-1967
near Rome-Griffiss AFB, Rome, New York
Shortly after takeoff the crew had indications of a fire and/or overheat with engines 5/6. They shut down both and and proceeded to Griffiss to land. The a/c was overweight. The first approach was terminated and control of the aircraft was lost during the missed approach. During what sounds like a stall, the A/C CC called for ejection. 2 of 8 crew member made it out of the aircraft and 6 were fatalities. Descriptions account that the aircraft rolled over from approx 2,000 feet. Sounds consistent with a stall but I don't know what would have caused it specifically. What caused the problem was multiple engine failures. The pilot stayed at the yoke and kept plane in air long enough to avoid crashing into trailer park.

The rest of the crew:
1st Lt. William S. Fairhurst, co-pilot - ejected
1st Lt. Sidney W. Glover, radar navigator - ejected but sustained broken leg and chest injuries
Maj. Lloyd D. Lassman, radar navigator - killed
Capt. Joe E. Turner, EWO - killed
S.Sgt. John Nealey Snyder, gunner- killed
S.Sgt. Willard F. Walker, crew chief - killed
Sgt. Gordon S. Flick, crew chief - killed


Maj Richards was the father of my wife's childhood best friend

MSgt John Chapman, USAF. Medal of Honor.

HERO