Photo By Tammy Reed | Col. Thomas R. Cross Parachute Rigger Hall of Fame inductee number 68, CW5 Roy...... read more read more
FORT LEE, Va. - A 21-year-old parachute rigger killed in Baghdad, Iraq, in June 2005 was among those inducted into the Col. Thomas R. Cross Parachute Rigger Hall of Fame Monday at a ceremony in the Quartermaster School’s Aerial Delivery and Field Services Department.
While stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., Spec. Eric T. Burri volunteered for deployment to support Operation Iraqi Freedom as a convoy security gunner. He died when a roadside bomb detonated near his Humvee. He was the 74th Rigger HoF inductee.
Six others also were inducted during the emotional ceremony where highlights of the service members’ 176 total years of rigger-related memories spilled out into the packed auditorium filled with fellow riggers, QM School leaders, family members and others.
With tears in their eyes, John Burri and his wife Joanne accepted their son’s certificate and gold plaque engraved with his photo, biography and awards. Mr. Burri thanked everyone for honoring their son.
“Thank you … thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” he said, struggling through tears. “Who would have thought our little boy would have been inducted into the hall of fame? Now, he’s recognized as a true hero. Thank you again.”
He continued to express gratitude toward several people who had shared stories of his son. One of them was newly inducted hall of famer retired Chief Warrant Officer 5 Roy Melebeck.
“Roy, he knew our boy,” Burri pointed out. “He’s another guy from Lansing. Our son was a big Michigan State fan, and Roy shared with me the story about Eric knocking on his door at 2 in the morning. He looked at him and told him, ‘Don’t ever come wake me at 2 in the morning.’ But Eric said, ‘Hey Michigan State is playing, and we have to watch the game,’ and that changed the tide right there.”
Laughter erupted in the audience as many understood the camaraderie of college football fandom.
The roster of 2020 inductees also included retired Chief Warrant Officers Wendy M. Jenner, Mark Michel, Petrice McKey-Reese and Deborah Lee. Representing the noncommissioned officer community was retired Command Sgt. Maj. Maria Allsopp. She beamed with pride while being presented her certificate and plaque – an honor that used to be for warrant officers only back in the ‘70s.
Inductee number 68, CW5 Melebeck’s contributions to the aerial delivery field are numerous but two of the most significant are establishing a Manpower Requirements Criteria for new airdrop systems and spearheading aerial delivery sustainment during Operation Enduring Freedom for the Department of Defense surge in troops.
Number 69 CW5 Jenner had a number of firsts to her name. She was the first female airdrop systems technician to be selected for the rank of CW5, and she was the first female AST to be assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
CSM Allsopp is the 70th inductee. Highlights of her accomplishments include being the first Army female jumpmaster and one of the first women to serve with the Army parachute team, the Golden Knights. She is considered a pioneer that has left a lasting impact throughout the parachute rigger field, according to the selection committee who chose her for HoF honors.
CW4 McKey-Reece followed Allsopp during the ceremony at number 71. In 1993, she earned her way into Warrant Officer Candidate School and was one of only four female warrants at that time and the only African-American female selected. In 2018, she was inducted into the U.S. Army Women’s Foundation Hall of Fame in Washington, D.C., for contributions to the Army as the first African-American female 921A to serve.
The 72nd inductee, CW4 Lee, was one of the first female parachute riggers assigned to a special forces position. During her career, she also deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm where she supervised the rigging of more than 350 tons of supplies for coalition forces in Iraq.
Number 73 CW5 Michel is well-known as the architect who completely restructured Special Operations Aerial Delivery support elements. This effort added over 159 parachute rigger positions to the command. His contributions to the rigger field have made a lasting impact and his model has been used during counterinsurgency and large-scale combat operations.
“The inductees sitting here today have achieved the highest levels of success in a world of over-achievers – those who push their minds every day for something more and something better,” said Jason Hanifin, ADFSD director, in his ceremony remarks. “It is not an easy feat to rise above this crowd, so it is extra special to see this event where true greatness is framed and put on a wall for others to honor.
“We appreciate all of your … hard work, sacrifices and dedication to our nation, the airborne community and the Rigger Team,” Hanifin also acknowledged. “Your legacy will always be present and motivate future leaders to climb to glory. Congratulations HOF Class of 2020, and thank you for allowing us to celebrate with you and your family today.”
| Date Taken: | 02.25.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 02.27.2020 14:03 |
| Story ID: | 364049 |
| Location: | FORT LEE, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 503 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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