Photo By Staff Sgt. Amanda Flower | Retired Capt. Evan Quiros presents a “Ghost Pilot” statue he crafted to U.S Air...... read more read more
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HURLBURT FIELD, Fla.— Nearly 70 years ago, Vietnam-era forward air controllers arrived at Hurlburt Field, Florida to train how to coordinate air-to-ground strikes ahead of shipping out for the Vietnam War.
This month, those same Airmen returned for a final reunion with a ceremony held at the Memorial Air Park on Hurlburt Field, Oct. 26, 2024.
Base leadership welcomed Forward Air Controller Association members as they reconnected and shared past experiences while paying their respects to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
“We’re excited to welcome you back and pay homage to the legacy you have set for every Air Commando following you,” said Chief Master Sgt. Ralph Oliver, 1st Special Operations Wing command chief. “Thank you for your service and thank you for lighting the way.”
Established in 1999, the FACA is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to preserve the history of the personnel who supported and flew the forward air controller mission during the war in Southeast Asia and serves as a collective point to share their stories and continue their legacy.
As members honored and remembered their fallen wingmen, the significance of it being the final reunion remained at the forefront.
“This will be a very fitting end, both a good and sad one, as we hold our last reunion where it all started,” said retired Lt. Col. Claude Newland, the FACA reunion coordinator. “Our time has come as we are aging and eventually every ‘last-man standing’ organization must fold its tent.”
Following the memorial ceremony portion of the reunion, retired Capt. Evan Quiros, presented a “Ghost Pilot” statue to Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, the commander of the Air Force Special Operations Command.
Sculpted by Quiros, the bronze statue is roughly a life-sized bust of a pilot wearing a helmet. The visor on the helmet is polished to give a ghost-like impression to represent those who have lost their lives, Quiros added. Engraved at the base of the statue is a poem by John Gillespie McGee, “For the pilots who ‘slipped the surly bonds of Earth and danced the skies on laughter-silver wings’ but never returned.”
The design of the sculpture transformed over the years as Quiros experienced life's tragedies.
“I lost my daughter, her husband and my two grandkids in a plane crash in Colorado,” Quiros said. “After mourning them and those I lost during the war, the sculpture evolved and my hope was for it to force people to reflect on the people in their own lives.”
Serving as a reminder of past encounters, the Ghost Pilot statue has affected previous recipients like retired Col. Zot Barazzotto, forcing him to reflect on the lives lost during the war.
“It stirred emotions and feelings like nothing in my 80 years, I think the Ghost Pilot helped thaw my frozen feelings,” Barazzotto noted.
Members of the FACA spent the remainder of the reunion sharing stories of their time in service, finding fellowship, and bolstering camaraderie while visiting the local area.
| Date Taken: | 10.23.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 11.01.2024 12:08 |
| Story ID: | 484265 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 30 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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