FALLEN
WARRIORS
Here we honor those who died while serving their
country in the war on terrorism. Let us remember that America's freedom has been
retained because these men and women and their families have paid the ultimate
price.
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Dedicated to those who gave their lives so
"That Others May Live"
"God has a Special Place in Heaven for all the Heroes..."
Listed on this page are the names of USAF air rescue and special operations personnel killed while conducting air rescue operations in this war. Let us all pray that this list does not continue to grow. If the name is in blue, it is hyperlinked to information about how that individual was killed. I regret that I do not have information on all of these personnel. If I am missing names or if you have information to provide on these or missing heroes, email me at rlapointe@gci.net
Do not stand at my grave and weep; I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the autumn's rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry. I am not there. I did not die. - Author Unknown
Operation Enduring Freedom -
Philippines
Click blue links below for additional information about
that person
These two PJs were supporting combat operations against an Osama Bin Laudin cell in the southern Philippines that call themselves Abu Sayaf. They were killed in the crash of an MH-47 on February 21, 2002
Master Sgt. William L. McDaniel
II, 29, Greenville, OH
(More
Information)
Staff Sgt.
Juan M. Ridout, 36, Maple Tree,
WA (More
Information)
Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan
John Chapman and Jason Cunningham were killed on March 4, 2002 during a major battle against Taliban forces that might have involved Osama Bin Laudin himself. John was a CCT and Jason was a PJ. Both were involved in a rescue mission for a Navy SEAL who was surrounded by enemy forces. In the course of the battle both men saved many lives and lost their own. Both men were posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross for heroism.
Tech. Sgt.
John A. Chapman, 36,
Windsor Locks, CT
Senior Airman
Jason D. Cunningham, 26,
Camarillo, CA
The five men and one woman below were an HH-60 air rescue crew downed during a medevac mission to save two Afghani children on March 23, 2003. Their callsign was "Komodo 11"
1st Lt.
Tamara Archuleta, 23, Los Lunas,
NM
Staff Sgt. Jason Hicks, 25, Jefferson, SC
Master Sgt. Michael Maltz,
42, St. Petersburg, FL
Senior Airman Jason Plite,
21, Lansing, MI
Lt. Col. John Stein, 39, Bardolph, IL
Staff Sgt. John Teal, 29, Dallas, TX
Technical Sergeant Scott E. Duffman, 32, of Albuquerque, N.M. was killed in action in Afghanistan on 18 February 2007. He was on an MH-47 with twenty-one other personnel when it crashed. At the time of the crash, they were providing CSAR coverage to several ongoing operations. The cause of the crash appears to be catastrophic engine failure. Eight personnel were killed in the crash. Two other PJs and one CCT were seriously injured. TSgt Duffman was assigned to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope AFB, NC when he was deployed to Southwest Asia. He is survived by his wife Mary, daughter Sofia, and his mother Rose. A memorial ceremony was held on 22 February 2007 at the Joint Special Operations Command compound. Scott was buried on March 2, 2007 at Arlington National Cemetery.
Technical Sergeant Scott E. Duffman, 32, of Albuquerque, N.M.
Fallen Pararescuemen and
their Rescue Teammates
I
was that which others did not want to be.
I went where others feared
to go,
and did what others failed
to do.
I asked nothing from those
who gave nothing,
And reluctantly accepted
the thought of eternal
loneliness...should I
fail.
I have seen the face of
terror; felt the stinging cold of fear,
and enjoyed the sweet
taste of a moment's love.
I have cried, pained and
hoped...
but most of all,
I have lived times others
would say best forgotten.
Always I will be able to
say,
that I was proud of what I
was: a Rescueman
~author unknown~