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“It is right that we gather today to remember and celebrate the lives and the sacrifice of these men, who on that fateful day 15 years ago paid the full measure of devotion in the service of their respective countries,” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Mark Spindler, DPAA’s deputy director.
The American service members were U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ronnie Cory, U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Robery Flynn, U.S. Navy Chief Hospital Medical Corpsman Pedro Gonzales, U.S. Air Force Maj. Charles Lewis, U.S. Army Lt. Col. George Martin, U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Steven Moser and U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Tommy Murphy. Joining these men were nine Vietnamese government officials and aircraft crewmembers.
As part of the ceremony, the names of those who died were read off, and a wreath was placed at the foot of a memorial commemorating the incident. The memorial service strengthens the resolve of those at DPAA to continue the noble pursuit to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation.
“By laying a wreath at the foot of this memorial, we are only remembering them,” said Spindler. “To honor them, we must—with great diligence—keep faith with one another and keep to the task at hand: we must never tire. We honor these men as we assume our posts every day stronger than ever; inspired by them to march on with a great resolve to never falter in this sacred mission, and ultimately fulfill our nation’s promise.”
For those connected to the accounting mission during the time of the crash, the memorial service was a bittersweet reminder of those who have carried the torch of the accounting mission and its singular will.
“We lost seven Americans and nine Vietnamese, but the will of the organization has never wavered, and we are stronger for it,” said Johnie Webb, DPAA’s deputy director of outreach and communications.
Webb, who served as the commander of CIL-HI and knew Sgt. 1st Class Tommy Murphy from his time at the unit, said that the loss of such close teammates was difficult, but that their significance and sacrifice is highlighted in the continued focus of the accounting community in bringing home those who have fallen in foreign lands.
| Date Taken: | 04.07.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 04.27.2016 07:25 |
| Story ID: | 194848 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 22 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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