Never Forgotten

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Leslie Kraushaar
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  As family, friends and fellow Airmen gathered to pay their respects for the fallen Airmen of the Khobar Towers, the sunny Florida skies shined above - a contrast, for some, of what they were feeling inside.

June 25th marks the day, 14 years ago, when five Airmen from the "Rescue" community here made that ultimate sacrifice to their country - the sacrifice of their lives.

"We're here so we do not forget what happened 14 years ago," said Col. Charlene Nelson, commander of the 920th Maintenance Group, during the memorial service. "We honor them for their families."

With opening remarks by Darrell Hankins, the project manager of the event and a former member of the 1st Rescue Group, the crowd of about 45 Airmen and 20 family and friends listened to the names of those who perished in the bombing.

The men who served from Patrick Air Force Base:

Capt. Christopher J. Adams of Massapequa Park, N.Y.
Capt. Leland T. Haun of Clovis, Calif.
Master Sgt. Michael G. Heiser of Palm Coast, Fla.
Staff Sgt. Kevin J. Johnson of Shreveport, La.
Airman First Class Justin R. Wood of Modesto, Calif.

"We are here to honor our fellow airmen and, most importantly, to make sure we never forget them," said Mr. Hankins who was active duty in the 71st Rescue Squadron at the time of the tragedy.

Jenny Haun, wife of Capt. Leland T. Haun who was killed in the bombing, has attended this memorial service here for the last three years.

"This means so much to the families. Everybody puts in a little of themselves," she said. "There is no one else who understands this, except military."

Last to speak before the traditional laying of the wreath on the memorial site was Senior Master Sgt. Michael Ziegler, a reserve pararesueman here and a first responder to the events in Saudi Arabia.

"These men felt a higher calling to save lives and it was, literally, that simple to them to do so," Sgt. Ziegler said. "These heroes spent their time protecting those around them."

Two Airmen carried the wreath to the granite memorial commemorating the lives of these great men and placed it there. A very, very small token of appreciation in comparison to what these families had sacrificed.

"We need to take their tragedy and become stronger from it," said Sgt. Ziegler.

In the combat search and rescue community, each and every airman is committed to saving lives - in some cases, at the expense of their own.

The motto, "These things we do, that others may live," is the creed these brave men and women live by.