USAF TACP
Memorial Dedication
June 26 2009



 

Memorial to the USAF Forward Air Controllers
Who Died in Southeast Asia

 

RANK

NAME

THE WALL

CALLSIGN

KIA DATE

Location

Organization

1962

Capt

Herbert W. Booth. Jr

01E, 13

DORA CORN

15-Oct-62

SVN

1st Air Commando

TSgt

Richard L. Foxx

01E, 13

DORA CORN

15-Oct-62

SVN

1st Air Commando

1963

Lt

Billy J. Coley

01E, 39

 

20-Dec-63

Ba Xugen, SVN

1st Air Commando

Lt

Donald A. Mollicone

01E, 39

 

20-Dec-63

a Xugen,  SVN

1st Air Commando

1964

Capt

Kurt C. McDonald

01E, 80

 

31-Dec-64

Danang/ Ashau, SVN

1st Air Commando

Capt

Homer C. McIntyre

01E, 60

 

28-Jul-64

Go Cong, SVN

1st Air Commando

1/Lt

Uwe-Thorsten Scobel

01E, 47

 

25-Mar-64

IV Corps, SVN

1st Air Commando

Capt

Richard L. Whitesides

01E, 48

BIRD DOG

26-Mar-64

SVN

1st Air Commando

1965

1/Lt

Robert M. Carn, Jr.

02E, 69

RED MARKER

29-Aug-65

SVN

19th TASS

1/Lt

Jerome Elkins

02E, 67

BIRD DOG

27-Aug-65

SVN

 

Capt

Francis E. Geiger

02E, 43

BIRD DOG

23-Jul-65

SVN

 

Capt

Donald R. Hawley

04E, 20

RED MARKER

17-Dec-65

SVN

19th TASS

Capt

James C. Kindel

04E,16

 

14-Dec-65

Tuyen Duc, SVN

 

Capt

Don R. Lewis

01E, 87

 

9-Feb-65

Khanh Hoa, SVN

 

Maj

William W. McAllister

01E, 106

BARON

22-Apr-65

SVN

21st TASS

Capt

John D. Musgrove

02E, 106

RASH

4-Oct-65

SVN

1st Cav

Capt

George H. Norton

02E, 52

BIRD DOG

13-Aug-65

SVN

20th TASS

Maj

Harley B. Pyles

02E, 125

BIRD DOG

18-Oct-65

SVN

20th TASS

1/Lt

Thomas A. Sanders

02E, 30

 

7-Jul-65

Khanh Hoa, SVN

 

Capt

Paul J. Simon

04E,15

 

14-Dec-65

Tuyen Duc, SVN

 

Capt

Thomas J. Tolliver

02E, 89

 

18-Sep-65

Binh Dinh, SVN

 

Capt

Paul R. Windle

02E, 26

RED MARKER

30-Jun-65

SVN 

19th TASS

1966

Maj

Stuart M. Andrews

05E, 98

BARON

4-Mar-66

SVN 

21st TASS

Maj

Fred E. Bailey

08E, 9

 

5-Jun-66

Binh Dinh, SVN

 

1/Lt

Craig S. Blackner

04E, 132

 

2-Feb-66

Long An, SVN

 

Capt

Joseph O. Brown

06E, 22

NAIL

18-Apr-66

Laos 

23rd TASS

Capt

David A. Farrow

07E, 57

HOUND DOG

13-May-66

Laos 

20th TASS

Capt

Joseph B. Fearno

06E. 30

 

21-Mar-66

Lam Dong, SVN

 

Maj

Lawrence J. Frahman

08E, 119

 

2-Jul-66

Quang Nam, SVN

 

Capt

Charles S. Franco

08E, 16

 JADE

7-Jun-66

SVN 

19th TASS

A1C

Andre R. Guillet

07E. 17

GOMBEY

18-May-66

Laos  

20th TASS

Capt

Harlow K. Halbower

04E, 50

PYTHON

2-Jan-66

SVN  

19th TASS

Capt

Lee D. Harley

07E, 81

GOMBEY

18-May-66

Laos  

20th TASs

Capt

David H. Holmes

06E, 10

HOUND DOG

15-Mar-66

Laos  

20th TASS

Capt

Marshall M. Holt, Jr.

05E, 95

GOMBEY

2-Mar-66

SVN  

20th TASS

Capt

John C. Jacobs

08E, 17

JADE

7-Jun-66

SVN  

19th TASS

Capt

Donald L. Jacobsen

12E, 37

HOUND DOG

7-Nov-66

SVN  

20th TASS

1/Lt

H. Walker Kaiser

10E, 91

VIPER

13-Sep-66

SVN  

19th TASS

Capt

Joseph A. Machowski

07E, 108

BARON

24-May-66

SVN  

21st TASS

Capt

Paul A. Meiners

05E, 96

GOMBEY

2-Mar-66

SVN  

20th TASS

Capt

Dan B. Packard

08E, 31

HOUND DOG

10-Jun-66

Laos  

20th TASS

Capt

William L. Schultz

11E, 63

LOPEZ

8-Oct-66

SVN  

20th TASS

Capt

William W. Smith

09E, 64

BIRD  DOG

23-Jul-66

SVN  

20th TASS

Capt

Warren P. Smith, Jr.

08E, 77

NAIL  

22-Jun-66

Laos  

23rd TASS

Capt

Charles F. Swope

12E, 49

 BIRD DOG

9-Nov-66

SVN  

20th TASS

Capt

Edmund F. Thornell

10E, 85

 

10-Sep-66

Phu Yen, SVN

 

Capt

Ronald E. Tinsley

09E, 72

 

24-Jul-66

Gia Dinh, SVN

 

Capt

Thomas H. Wolfe

08E, 106

NAIL

28-Jun-66

Laos  

23rd TASS

Capt

Karl E. Worst

05E, 96

GOMBEY

2-Mar-66

Laos  

20th TASS

1967

1/Lt

Arthur J. Abramoff

14E, 56

CAGEY

20-Jan-67

SVN

 

Capt

James H. Bennett, Jr.

28E, 100

COVEY  

18-Sep-67

SVN

 

Capt

Gardner Brewer

26E, 69

TOGO

14-Sep-67

SVN

 

Capt

Richard W. Budka

32E, 56

COVEY  

25-Dec-67

SVN

 

Capt

Douglas H. Butterfield

21E, 57

RASH  

5-Jun-67

SVN

1st Cav

Maj

Morrison A. Cotner

18E, 106

CUTIE  

28-Apr-67

SVN  

21st TASS

Maj

Ommie T. Cox, Jr.

32E, 9

HERB

16-Dec-67

SVN  

21st TASS

Maj

John C. Egger, Jr.

29E, 14

COVEY  

3-Nov-67

NVN

 

Capt

Tonie L. England, Jr.

17E, 2

CIDER

21-Mar-67

SVN

 

1/Lt

Walter H. Forbes, III

17E, 3

CIDER

21-Mar-67

SVN

 

Capt

Lucius L. Heiskell

14E, 129

NAIL

6-Feb-67

NVN  

23rd TASS

Lt Col

Lester E. Holmes

20E, 81

COVEY  

22-May-67

NVN

 

Capt

Kenneth D. Krehbeil

28E, 40

RASH  

20-Oct-67

SVN

1st Cav

1/Lt

Alva R. Krogman

14E, 45

NAIL

17-Jan-67

Laos  

23rd TASS

Maj

Billy E. Lankford

32E, 57

HELIX

25-Dec-67

SVN  

20th TASS

1/Lt

George B. Menges

13E, 110

NAIL

2-Jan-67

Laos  

23rd TASS

1/Lt

John W. Mower

17E, 46

ELLIOT

25-Mar-67

SVN  

21st TASS

Capt

Edgar E. Nuschke

14E, 64

COVEY  

21-Jan-67

SVN

 

Capt

Albert F. Sayer, Jr.

26E, 38

JADE

8-Sep-67

SVN  

19th TASS

Maj

Jerry A. Sellers

32E, 60

COVEY  

25-Dec-67

SVN

 

Capt

William G. Sipos

17E, 111

LOPEZ

6-Apr-67

SVN  

20th TASS

Lt Col

Norris R. Smith

26E, 17

 

6-Sep-67

Pleiku, SVN

21st TASS

Maj

Wilbur T. Stair

14E, 77

VIPER

25-Jan-67

SVN  

19th TASS

1/Lt

John W. Vandeventer

18E, 77

NILE

23-Apr-67

SVN   

19th TASS

Capt

Hilliard A. Wilbanks

15E, 18

WALT

24-Feb-67

SVN  

21st TASS

Capt

Derex S. Williams, Jr.

25E, 36

COVEY  

23-Aug-67

SVN

 

1968

Maj

Robert Ball

58W, 17

TRAIL

10-Jun-68

SVN  

20th TASS

Maj

Charles D. Ballou

39W, 31

RAVEN

7-Nov-68

Laos

 56th SOW

Capt

Sam F. Beach

34E, 61

COVEY  

17-Jan-68

SVN

 

Capt

Thomas J. Beyer

50W, 34

HELIX  

30-Jul-68

SVN  

20th TASS

Maj

Charles E. Blair

45E, 33

WALT

19-Mar-68

SVN  

21st TASS

Maj

David G. Brenner

56W, 6

JAKE

13-Jun-68

SVN  

19th TASS

1/Lt

Ivan J. Campbell

38W, 33

NAIL

22-Nov-68

Thailand

Maj

Jerry L. Chambers

65E, 4

NAIL

22-May-68

Laos  

23rd TASS

Capt

Larry J. Clanton

45E, 61

KENNY

23-Mar-68

SVN  

19th TASS

1/Lt

Johnnie C. Cornelius

54W, 2

COVEY  

26-Jun-68

NVN

 

Capt

Bruce A. Couillard

45E, 38

SIDEWINDER

20-Mar-68

SVN  

19th TASS

Capt

George M. Cunningham

42W, 4

NILE

24-Sep-68

SVN  

19th TASS

Capt

Samuel M. Deichelmann

45W, 49

RAVEN

6-Sep-68

SVN

56th SOW

Maj

Freddie D. Dickens

41W, 68

ALLEN

17-Oct-68

SVN  

20th TASS

Capt

Richard L. Edwards

40W,24

LOPEZ

23-Oct-68

SVN  

20th TASS

1/Lt

Albert A. Englehardt

44E, 67

NAIL

16-Mar-68

SVN  

23rd TASS

Capt

William H. Fabian

39W, 65

SIDEWINDER

14-Nov-68

SVN  

19th TASS

Maj

Allen E. Fellows

45E, 39

COVEY  

20-Mar-68

Laos

 

Major

Wayne A. Ferguson

56W, 2

TONTO

16-Jun-68

SVN  

19th TASS

Capt

Bruce B. Greene

36W, 16

ISSUE  

13-Dec-68

SVN  

19th TASS

Capt

Charles F. Griffin

36W, 16

ISSUE  

13-Dec-68

SVN  

19th TASS

1/Lt

George B. Hamilton

41W, 66

ISSUE  

16-Oct-68

SVN  

19th TASS

Capt

Gregg Hartness

38W, 66

COVEY  

26-Nov-68

Laos

 

Maj

Carl F. Karst

39W, 74

SNUG

16-Nov-68

SVN

 

Capt

James F. Lang

52E, 39

RASH  

28-Apr-68

SVN

1st Cav

Maj

Edward E. McBride

38W,77

RAVEN

27-Nov-68

Laos

 56th SOW

Capt

Harreld P. Martin

47W, 48

 LOPEZ

23-Aug-68

SVN  

20th TASS

Lt Col

Andrew Matyas

40E, 10

 

18- Feb- 68

Phong Din, SVN

 

Capt

Anthony J. Pearson

40W, 14

SLEEPYTIME

21-Oct-68

SVN  

19th TASS

Capt

Jack C. Plumb

45W, 28

HELIX  

2-Sep-68

Thailand

 

Maj

Marion E. Reed

40W, 25

BARKY

23-Oct-68

SVN  

20th TASS

Capt

Lon D. Richards

47W, 52

HELIX  

23-Aug-68

SVN  

20th TASS

A!C*

Victor Romero

45E, 35

WALT

19-Mar-68

SVN  

21st TASS

Capt

Griffin E. Scarborough

59E, 15

HELIX  

12-May-68

SVN  

20th TASS

Capt

Marlin L. Siegwalt

40W, 60

RAVEN

30-Oct-68

Laos

 56th SOW

Maj

Wilbur A. Skaar, Jr.

62E, 12

CIDER

17-May-68

SVN 

 

Capt

Lewis P. Smith, II

62W, 2

COVEY  

30-May-68

Laos

 

Maj

Herman Smits, Jr.

53W, 23

TUM

5-Jul-68

SVN  

21st TASS

Maj

Robert E. Staley

57E, 33

 

9-May-68

Quang Tri, Thailand

Maj

Richard C. Swift

38W, 39

NAIL

22-Nov-68

Thai 

23rd TASS

Capt

Harold R. Vogel

57W, 21

 

14-Jun-68

Sa Dec, SVN

 

Capt

Ralph R. Wensinger

40W, 16

SLEEPYTIME

21-Oct-68

SVN  

19th TASS

Maj

Robert F. Woods

54W, 4

COVEY  

26-Jun-68

NVN

 

Maj

Louis C. Zucker

45E, 44

SIDEWINDER

20-Mar-68

SVN  

19th TASS

                        * TACP Radio Operator

1969

Capt

John J. Bach, III

26W, 12

RAVEN

20-Apr-69

Laos

56th SOW

2/Lt

John R. Baldridge, Jr.

16W, 97

LOPEZ

20-Nov-69

Laos  

20th TASS

Capt

Francis J. Birchak

35W, 69

BOMBER

11-Jan-69

SVN  

22nd TASS

Lt Col

Frank H. Briggs

35W, 69

DART

19-Oct-69

SVN  

22nd TASS

Capt

William O. Burkett

27W, 93

RAKE

16-Apr-69

SVN  

21st TASS

Capt

Joseph K. Bush

32W, 3

RAVEN

10-Feb-69

Laos

56th SOW

Maj

Harry J. Coates, Jr.

16W, 27

HELIX

4-Nov-69

SVN  

20th TASS

1/Lt

Glenn R. Cook

17W, 100

CUTIE  

21-Oct-69

SVN  

21st TASS

1/Lt

Daniel R. Davis

19W, 59

RAVEN

18-Aug-69

Laos

56th SOW

Capt

Jackie L. Dickens

23W, 41

BILK  

2-Jun-69

SVN

101st Abn.

Maj

Philippe B. Fales

16W, 83

RASH  

16-Nov-69

SVN

1st Cav

1/Lt

James R. Gilmore

23W, 44

JAKE

2-Jun-69

SVN

1st Cav

Capt

Remi H. Greeff

38W, 22

 

30-Jan-69

Gia Dinh, SVN

 

Capt

Kenneth J. Hamrick

19W, 39

BOMBER

14-Aug-69

SVN  

22nd TASS

1Lt

Hal K. Henderson

20W, 86

 

2-Aug-69

Quang Tin, SVN

 

Capt

James D. Hoag

22W, 89

KENNY

19-Jun-69

SVN  

19th TASS

Capt

Charles L. Karr

16W, 29

HELIX

4-Nov-69

SVN  

20th TASS

Maj

David L. Knott

15W, 94

RASH  

26-Dec-69

SVN

1st Cav

Capt

Donald A. Luna

33W, 33

NAIL

1-Feb-69

Laos  

23rd TASS

1/Lt

Phillip L. Mascari

26W, 100

NAIL

2-May-69

Laos  

23rd TASS

Capt

Leon J. Pierce

27W, 96

RAKE

16-Apr-69

SVN  

21st TASS

Lt Col

Walter A. Renelt

16W, 103

LOPEZ

20-Nov-69

Laos  

20th TASS

Capt

Robert F. Rex

30W, 95

NAIL

9-Mar-69

Laos  

23rd TASS

1/Lt

Kennard E. Svanoe

23W, 48

COVEY

2-Jun-69

SVN

 

Capt

James C. Woods

17W, 92

DART

19-Oct-69

SVN  

22nd TASS

Maj

Mannifred Yates

18W, 80

SNAP

13-Sep-69

SVN  

22nd TASS

  1970

1/Lt

 Henry L. Allen

12W, 44

RAVEN

26-Mar-70

Laos

56th SOW

Maj

James P. Allenberg

06W, 128

HELIX  

18-Dec-70

SVN  

20th TASS

1/Lt

James S. Baird

13W, 13

BILK  

15-Feb-70

SVN

101st Abn

Lt

Jerry E. Bevan

07W, 69

COVEY

17-Sep-70

SVN

 

Capt

Wendell L. Brown

11W, 67

ISSUE

29-Apr-70

SVN  

19th TASS

Capt

Robert W. Brunson

07W, 124

NAIL

11-Oct-70

Cambodia

23rd TASS

Capt

Park G. Bunker

05W, 14

RAVEN

30-Dec-70

Laos

56th SOW

Lt

James M. Butler

08W, 48

COVEY

24-Jul-70

SVN

 

Maj

Joseph L. Chestnut

07W, 132

RAVEN

13-Oct-70

Laos

56th SOW

Maj

James W. Clement

13W, 110

SPEEDY

11-Mar-70

SVN

 

Capt

James E. Cross

11W, 44

RAVEN

24-Apr-70

Laos

56th SOW

1/Lt

Thomas A. Duckett

06W, 116

NAIL

12-Dec-70

Laos

 

1/Lt

John E. Duffy

12W, 92

JAKE

4-Apr-70

SVN

1st Cav

1/Lt

Garrett E. Eddy

07W, 103

RUSTIC

1-Oct-70

Cambodia

19th TASS

Capt

Richard G.Elzinga

12W, 45

RAVEN

26-Mar-70

Laos

56th SOW

1/Lt

Robert D. Hauer

07W, 39

CUTIE

5-Sep-70

SVN  

21st TASS

Capt

Gerald E. Hull

13W, 14

BILK  

15-Feb-70

SVN

101st Abn

Capt

William A. Justice

09W, 116

COVEY

3-Jul-70

Cambodia

 

1/Lt

Paul F. Klug

13W, 110

SPEEDY

11-Mar-70

SVN  

22nd TASS

Lt

Peter J. Landry

06W, 140

TRAIL

5-Nov-70

SVN  

20th TASS

1/Lt

John A. Lehecka

14W, 23

COVEY

10-Jan-70

Laos

 

Capt

Michael J. McGerty

07W, 28

COVEY

31-Aug-70

SVN

 

Capt

Richard W. Meacham, Jr.

10W, 81

COVEY

22-May-70

SVN

 

Lt Col

Robert K. Milbrath

06W, 40

TRAIL

5-Nov-70

SVN  

20th TASS

1/Lt

Steven A. Mueller

14W, 44

ELLIOT

18-Jan-70

SVN  

21st TASS

1/LT

Jose N. Ortiz

11W, 69

ISSUE

29-Apr-70

SVN  

19th TASS

Capt

Jerry N. Phillips

11W, 87

NILE

2-May-70

SVN  

19th TASS

Capt

John P. Powell

08W, 10

BARKY  

13-Aug-70

SVN  

20th TASS

LtCol

Jerry W. Pyle

10W, 19

LOPEZ

11-May-70

SVN  

20th TASS

Capt

G. David Reese, III

11W, 47

RAVEN

24-Apr-70

Laos

56th SOW

1/Lt

John L. Ryder

09W, 35

MIKE

9-Jun-70

SVN   SOG

SOG

Capt

William S. Sanders

09W, 107

NAIL

30-Jun-70

Laos  

23rd TASS

Maj

Owen G. Skinner

06W, 117

NAIL

12-Dec-70

Laos  

23rd TASS

Capt

James L. Smith

05W, 13

COVEY

28-Dec-70

Laos

 

Capt

Rodney H. Stone

11W, 88

NILE

2-May-70

SVN  

19th TASS

Capt

Ronald E. Storz

01E, 110

BIRD DOG

23-Apr-70

NVN  

20th TASS

1/Lt

Michael S. Vrablick

07W, 104

RUSTIC

1-Oct-70

Cambodia

19th TASS

  1971

Maj

Richard H. Defer

02W, 43

RAVEN

18-Oct-71

Laos

56th SOW

1/Lt

Charles E. Engle

05W, 130

RAVEN

22-Feb-71

Laos

56th SOW

1/Lt

William R. Finn

02W, 91

COVEY

24-Dec-71

Laos

 

1/Lt

James L. Hull

05W, 120

COVEY

19-Feb-71

Laos

 

1/Lt

John W. Kennedy

03W, 132

JAKE

16-Aug-71

SVN

1st Cav

Maj

Harold B. Lineberger

05W, 67

SPIKE

29-Jan-71

Cambodia

 

Maj

Herbert Miller

03W, 1

BARKY

21-Apr-71

SVN  

20th TASS

Capt

Dennis E. Morgan

03W, 18

RAVEN

29-Apr-71

Laos

56th SOW

Capt

Charles P. Russell

02W, 83

RAVEN

3-Dec-71

Laos

56th SOW

1/Lt

Robert E. Ryan

02W, 56

NAIL

30-Oct-71

Laos  

23rd TASS

1/Lt

John M. Rydlewicz

03W, 130

RASH  

12-Aug-71

SVN  

1st Cav

1/Lt

Stephen R. Scrivener

04W, 55

HAMMER

17-Mar-71

Laos

 

Capt

Douglas M. Seeley

04W, 56

HAMMER

17-Mar-71

Laos

 

1/Lt

Daniel W. Thomas

03W, 102

NAIL

6-Jul-71

Laos  

23rd TASS

1/Lt

Timothy M. Tucker

02W, 91

COVEY

24-Dec-71

Laos

 

1/Lt

Willis G. Uhls

05W, 98

RAVEN

11-Feb-71

Laos

56th SOW

Maj

William E. Wood, Jr.

03W, 2

BARKY

21-Apr-71

SVN  

20th TASS

  1972

Capt

Barry K. Allmond

01W, 23

SUNDOG

11-May-72

SVN  

19th TASS

1/Lt

Vincent C. Anderson

01W, 75

COVEY

26-Sep-72

SVN

 

Capt

Steven L. Bennett

01W, 51

COVEY

29-Jun-72

SVN

 

Maj

John L. Carroll

01W, 90

RAVEN

7-Nov-72

Laos

56th SOW

1/Lt

Richard N. Christy, II

02W, 107

SUNDOG

17-Feb-72

Cambodia

19th TASS

Capt

Francis X. Egan

01W, 96

COVEY

19-Dec-72

SVN

 

1/Lt

Arthur H. Hardy

02W, 114

 COVEY

14-Mar-72

Laos

 

Capt

Richard W. Herold

01W, 69

RAVEN

2-Sep-72

Laos

56th SOW

1/Lt

John H. Haselton

01W, 23

SUNDOG

11-May-72

SVN  

19th TASS

Capt

Paul V. Jackson, III

01W, 105

RAVEN

24-Dec-72

Laos

56th SOW

Capt

Thomas J. Jozefowski

01W, 49

TUM

25-Jun-72

SVN  

21st TASS

Lt Col

Carl O. McCormick

01W, 81

COVEY

6-Oct-72

SVN

 

Capt

Harold L. Mischler

01W, 104

RAVEN

23-Dec-72

Laos

56th SOW

Capt

George H. Tousley, III

02W, 105

RAVEN

8-Feb-72

Laos

56th SOW

1/Lt

Richard S. Voigts

01W, 31

COVEY

24-May-72

SVN

 

1/Lt

Bruce C. Walker

02W, 133

COVEY

7-Apr-72

SVN

 

Maj

George B. Waring

01W, 65

Quang Nam

25-Aug-72

Quang Nam, SVN

 

Capt

David L. Yoakum

01W, 49

TUM

25-Jun-72

SVN  

21st TASS

1973

1/Lt

Joseph Gambino, Jr.

01W, 116

RUSTIC

8-Apr-73

Cambodia

23rd TASS

1/Lt.

Richard T. Gray

01W, 118

NAIL

5-Jun-73

Cambodia

 

Capt

Ted B. Hallenbeck

01W, 115

AU-23

5-Feb-73

Thai   

23rd TASS

Capt

George W. Morris, Jr.

01W, 112

NAIL

27-Jan-73

SVN   

23rd TASS

1/Lt

Mark A. Peterson

01W, 113

NAIL

27-Jan-73

SVN   

23rd TASS

 

 

June 26th 2009 TACP School House, Hulbert Field Florida.  Personnel are already showing up for the event.  The memorial is covered in a poncho, a fitting cover for a TACP.

Many are showing up early to get a good seat.

NOTE: I will put names to faces in the mouse over link. If you see someone not identified let me know and I'll update the image. I'm posting over 500 meg of images so I'm bound to make a mistake here and there. I'm going to be making changes to the page, realigning images and such for the next several days. I have tons to upload, comment and adjust. Images have been reduced in size to save storage space but All images are available in super-high rez.

The ambient temperature is about 85 with 90% (or so it felt) humidity. The Students, all shiny in their blues, wait in the shade.

Hey Randy Horn....do you want your picture taken?

ah....is that a no?

Blast from the Past....Robbie Johnson and his son

The Honor Guard

[Photo Albums on Face book]

Dale Spillers Photo Album

Jarred Taylors Photos

Charlie Heidals Album

At 1000 hrs, under crystal clear blue skies a pair of F-16s flew over the TACP School house at Hurlburt Field Florida kicking off the dedication ceremony for the TACP Memorial. Jared Taylor was the master of ceremonies

And the official Party is seated: BG Mike Longoria and Chief Devine

Posting the Colors

At 1010 EST across the planet, 1C4 personnel stopped what they were doing and bowed their head in remembrance of our fallen

NOTE: If you have photos of your "remote" participation in this event please email them or get them to me somehow and I'll link them into this page. At 1024 Chief Devine took the podium

Chief Devines Speech:

"General Longoria, Colonels, Commanders, Chiefs, Fellow TACP's, honored guests.

Good morning, I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to be part of this momentous occasion. Before I begin, I'd like to share some words of thanks: First of all, I'd like to thank MSgt Carron and everyone here at the schoolhouse for all the hard work that went into making today happen; not only did they conceive the this idea, but they kept with it and refused to quit even when it looked like we'd never get here and they did all of this in addition to their very demanding duties of training the future of our career field. Second I'd like to thank the TACP association and the many sponsors, corporate and private, whose generous donations made this memorial possible.

What is a memorial? The Encarta dictionary says its "Something that is intended to remind people of someone who has died or an event in which people died, e.g. a statue, speech, or ceremony intended as a reminder of a person or event or as a celebration of somebody�s life and work". This memorial certainly fits both parts of the definition. Today, 1045 active duty and 302 Air National Guard TACPs have something they can call theirs. Something that commemorate our sacrifices, our lives and our work for many years to come.

Long before AFSC 275X0, later converted to 1C4X1, was created in 1977, the Air Force recognized the need to have a group of men, trained, motivated and maybe just a little crazy, who would live, train and fight alongside our army brethren to plan and execute Close Air Support Missions.

Who in their right mind would join the Air Force to Join the Army?

In the beginning the answer was not many. So the Air Force asked itself what's at the heart of what these men need to do?

The answer was communications, and they grabbed a group of radio operators and maintainers and turned them into Radio Operators Maintainers and Drivers, or ROMAD's.

Those of you who are as old as me, or older, met some of these men and were probably trained by them. Were they happy about their new line of work? Some where, some were not, but every day they went out and did the job and did it well. Most importantly, they built the foundation of a reputation that those who followed them have continued to build upon.

Today that reputation is a group of men with the innate ability to thrive in the face of adversity, fix just about anything with a ball peen hammer and hundred mile per hour tape and who, most importantly are willing and able to do whatever it takes to accomplish the mission and somehow manage to pull it off with a smile on their face.

Men who don�t seek the limelight, but often find themselves right in the middle of it. Men so competent that they were given the authority to provide terminal attack control of aircraft, a job with an incredible level of responsibility and one that was previously reserved for commissioned officers. Men who are so dedicated to their profession that they were asked to serve as the senior Air Force representatives to Army Battalion commanders.

Over the years there have been and there will continue to be many changes: Uniforms, equipment, Tactics, Techniques and Procedures, weapons and the list goes on. But what hasn�t changed is the undying commitment of the men in this career field, their ability to look within themselves and find the inner strength needed to take the next step when your body says it cant; to execute your first night missions with a target in close proximity to friendly forces when the slightest miscalculation could spell disaster for your team.

What is it we're recognizing today? Its more than a group of men who are physically fit, technically and tactically competent and brave enough to jump out of airplanes, rappel out of helicopters and run around the front lines of the fight looking for action. Its men who truly love what they're doing and will do whatever it takes to take care of their buddies and get the job done. What we do isn�t always sexy, its seldom easy and its often easy to forget about us when there isn�t a shooting ware going on, but were always there, waiting and ready for the next call.

What does the future hold for us? Will we be able to grow to and retain the required numbers of more than two thousand five hundred total force TACP's? Will we be able to make changes that will give you more time with your families and more time to focus on training?

How will continuously improving technology change the way we employ our TACP's?

I honestly don�t know the answer to these questions, but here is what I do know. I know that when the sun rises tomorrow, that the men of this career field will do what they do every day, they'll pull on their uniforms, dust off their gear and stand the line, ready for what ever mission is thrown their way.

In his Gettysburg address, Abraham Lincoln said "The world will little note, nor long remember that what we say here" and although that is likely true of today, your actions have ensured that the world will note and long remember the contributions and sacrifices made by the men of the United States Air Force Tactical Air Control Party career field.

 Thank you for your kind attention. God bless you and God bless our incredible career field.

 

 

 

At 1032 hrs BG Longoria gave a speech [Awaiting transcript from video tape]

 

 

 

 

At 1045 hrs BG Longoria and Chief Devine unveil the TACP Memorial

 

 

 

 

The laying of the Wreathes: Pete Klein, Lee Blackwell and an unknown new graduate

 

 

 

 

Honors to the Memorial, Firing of salute and Taps

 

 

 

 

Audience shots

 

 

 

 

The Memorial dedication concluded at 1100 hrs.

 

 

 

 

Due to the heat the area cleared out pretty quickly. But at 1900 hrs, the party started...

To set the stage.

4 Kegs of beer (night ended with two more showing up) and at least one bottle of jack appearing.

BBQ on hand an open mic for those brave (or drunk enough) to participate.

A hot and heavy game of Beer Pong (of which our esteemed Chief Devine won at 10-1 and a water slide that got weirder as the night turned into morning.

Of special note was that even with about 200 drunks, loud music and general mayhem we didn't see one Police officer....

I have to attribute that to the fact that one of our number was a BG

 

[A few pan around the area movies]

Pan Movie around 1930 hrs
Pan Movie around 2000 hrs

[Disclaimer] Listening to these songs could be hazardous to your health. Remember you were warned

[NOTE: Recommend right clicking on these and downloading them to your drive for a speedier play.]

A ballad This is a big file...takes a few minutes to load
Chief Devine and Love shack...coming soon to ITUNES
Chief Devine speech after singing...
 

I need to flip this one on its side but you can figure out what's going on....Bowling for ROMAD's

Sometime during the evening a coin check was called. Frank Lofton was the only one present (so it seems) to be without circular protection. It was also his birthday so duct tape was acquired and forces were marshaled. The cunning plan was to tape him to the pull bars...but we only had about 150-200 folks present and that was not enough to hold AND tape him. Next time we need to bring ALLOT more folks.  Lofton Melee

 

This page was copied from the www.ROMAD.com web site
Some minor editing was done for clarity.