[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 39 (Wednesday, April 13, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 13, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
         HUMANITARIAN MISSION ENDS IN TRAGEDY FOR GUNSHIP CREW

                                 ______


                            HON. EARL HUTTO

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 13, 1994

  Mr. HUTTO. Mr. Speaker, on March 14, 1994, an AC-130H gunship crashed 
while participating in humanitarian missions in Somalia; 7 of the 14 
crew members lost their lives in this crash.
  I was privileged to attend a memorial service at Hurlburt Field, FL, 
on March 21. The words of the airmen's commanders eloquently stated the 
grief we all feel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the survivors and 
families of Jockey 14.

  Speech Delivered by Maj. Gen. Bruce L. Fisher on March 21, 1994, at 
                     Memorial Service for Jockey 14

       The 16th Special Operations Squadron, Jockey 14, an AC-130H 
     crew, part of our Air Force of first and last resort, part of 
     a joint special operations task force, carrying out the 
     wishes of our nation protecting fellow Americans during the 
     last days of our withdrawal from Mogadishu, Somalia. You see 
     there was no other aircraft or people who could do this 
     mission. It had to be the 16th Special Operations Squadron 
     and Jockey 14. American forces in Somalia counted on them and 
     they were there.
       Families, friends, squadron mates, fellow soldiers, 
     sailors, airmen, and Marines, people from all over our 
     nation, our dear friends from our civilian communities; we 
     have suffered a tremendous loss. Those men we lost from the 
     crew of Jockey 14--Capt Anthony Stefanik, Capt David Mehlhop, 
     Capt Mark Quam, MSgt Roy Duncan, TSgt Robert Daniel, SSgt 
     Mick Moser, SSgt Brian Barnes--were the best America has to 
     offer. They have never let us down; they have been an honor 
     to our country. Today we miss them and our hearts cry out for 
     them.
       Throughout the course of human events God blesses us with 
     other people in our lives. He gives us friends, coworkers and 
     professional associates; he give us squadron mates; he gives 
     us husbands and wives and sons and daughters; he gaves us 
     fathers and mothers; all whom we love and cherish dearly. He 
     gave us the crew of Jockey 14. Then sometimes during the 
     course of our lives those precious gifts are taken from us--
     for reasons and under circumstances we may never understand. 
     This causes great pain even though our faith tells us God has 
     a greater purpose. For the Psalmist says, ``The Lord will 
     watch over your coming and going both now and forever more.'' 
     (PS 121:8) and Jesus said, ``For God so loved the world that 
     he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him 
     shall not perish but have eternal life.'' (John 3:16) This 
     loss hurts, but I cannot pretend to feel the grief and sorrow 
     you wives, children, mothers and fathers, and sisters and 
     brothers are suffering during this extremely difficult time. 
     We can only reach out to you and pray for you and say I am 
     sorry.
       For us, all of us, who must carry on, we will live with the 
     brave legacy of Jockey 14; airmen and special operators of 
     the proudest tradition. We will remember the challenges they 
     overcame and the sacrifice they made. We must comfort our 
     families, support each other, and continue to answer the war 
     tocsin when it sounds. Ladies and gentlemen, combat units 
     perform well under adversity for several reasons, but the 
     most compelling is the bond between unit members; the love 
     and respect they have for each other and their refusal to let 
     one another down. Jockey 14 was such a crew, the 16th Special 
     Operations Squadron is such a unit. We must remember the men 
     of Jockey 14 and those who have gone before them, and we must 
     not let them down. Difficult yes; but with God's amazing 
     grace, ``He will my shield and portion be as long as life 
     endures.'' (Hymn ``Amazing Grace'') Jockey 14, Spectre will 
     be there; anytime, anyplace.
       God bless you all.
                                  ____


   Comments by Brig. Gen. Maxwell C. Bailey, Commander, 16th Special 
                            Operations Wing

       This morning we're gathered here to honor the memory of our 
     fellow airmen and friends who have made the ultimate 
     sacrifice in giving their lives in the service of their 
     country.
       They were on an important mission--a mission directly 
     supporting and protecting American lives who were on a 
     humanitarian mission in Somalia. When we think of their 
     sacrifice, of course, the sacrifice is not theirs alone, and 
     we think especially today of the sacrifice of their families. 
     The most important thing I will tell you this morning is that 
     the concern and the warmth you felt from your escorts and 
     from the men and the families of the squadron and the wing 
     will not cool after today or after this week. We will 
     continue to be here for you and will keep you a part of the 
     Air Force and Special Operations community for as long as you 
     need us.
       We're also here today to reflect on the lives of our 
     friends and those things that give us a common bond--their 
     love of country, their love of our Air Force, their pride in 
     being special operators and their love of flying.
       The best tribute we can pay today to their memories is to 
     rededicate ourselves to those same values as we continue our 
     important mission.
       Finally, we take comfort that our God has a special place 
     in His Kingdom for those who fly--when we are promised that 
     ``He shall cover thee with His feathers and under His wings 
     shalt thou trust.''
                                  ____


            Remarks for Jockey 14 Memorial,  Mar.  21, 1994

                          (By LTC Mike Byers)

       As the tragic events of this past week unfolded I wondered 
     what I could possibly say to ease the pain and sorrow we feel 
     for the loss of our comrades on Jockey 14. As I felt and 
     observed the anguish of the families, I realized mere words 
     could not ease the pain.
       The men we remember today each had those qualities that 
     made them so capable of accomplishing the mission. These 
     qualities were a sense of duty, patriotism, discipline, and 
     self confidence. These men were tied together by a mission 
     and a spirit of teamwork that only those who have served in 
     this wing can hope to know.
       Captain David J. Mehlhop, the navigator. I remember Dave as 
     a quiet man with a streak of mischievousness. He was 
     constantly giving a 100 percent effort to improve his skills 
     as a gunship navigator. I remember the great job Dave did as 
     a mission planner for our crews flying missions over Bosnia-
     Herzegovina. His thoroughness helped them return safely from 
     their missions.
       Captain Anthony R. Stefanik Jr, the fire control officer. 
     Tony was a family man and was a strong individual, both 
     mentally and physically. We often called him ``Arnold'' due 
     to his physique. He was one of the squadron's best fire 
     control officers. Tony was superb with words and I remember 
     his frequently staying late at work to make sure his squadron 
     mates's performance reports were perfect.
       Captain Mark A. Quam, the electronic warfare officer. Mark 
     was one of the most intelligent individuals I've met. Mark's 
     nickname in the squadron was ``Q'', which he liked because it 
     was the same as a character on one of his favorite TV shows, 
     Star Trek--the next generation. When he wasn't reading, you 
     could usually find Mark playing a board game with his crew. I 
     would fly anywhere with Mark.
       Master Sergeant Roy S. Duncan, the loadmaster. Roy boy was 
     a man of loyalty and character. He was absolutely tenacious 
     when defending the loadmaster and illuminator operator 
     section. I remember Roy in the operational readiness 
     inspection and on some missions over Bosnia-Herzegovina where 
     Roy frequently had to fly in the coldest part of the 
     airplane. On one of these missions his socks froze. Despite 
     suffering from the severe cold, he never left the tail of the 
     aircraft undefended by leaving his station. That was just the 
     kind of person Roy was.
       Technical Sergeant Robert L. Daniel, sensor operator. I met 
     Bobby over 13 years ago and at that time he was a gunner. He 
     later crosstrained to sensor operator but I think he was 
     still a gunner at heart. Bobby was in the squadron since 
     1977, over 16 years. Whenever a challenging mission came 
     along I knew Bobby would somehow make sure he was on it.
       Staff Sergeant Brian P. Barnes, gunner. Brian was always 
     very thorough in his duties and dedicated to the squadron. He 
     was always quiet when I was around him, but very efficient on 
     the airplane. I don't remember ever having a gun off the line 
     for more than a minute when I flew with him. Brian worked 
     hard in the awards and decorations section of the squadron to 
     make sure others got recognized for their efforts.
       Staff Sergeant Mike E. Moser, gunner. Mike was interested 
     in everything and was so easy to get along with. He was an 
     expert roller skater and loved to snorkel and dive. Mike was 
     proud to be a gunner and he was one of the best.
       The men of Jockey 14 were flying missions over Somalia they 
     considered routine, but they were't--these men just made it 
     look easy. They were there to answer the calls for help from 
     Americans on the ground--their presence alone ensured the 
     safety of Americans in Mogadishu.
       While Dave, Tony, Mark, Roy, Brian, Bobby, and Mike are no 
     longer with us, our memories of them live on. They will 
     always be a part of the spirit of the 16th. Our memory of 
     them will forever be that of men who stepped to the front--
     who answered the call of duty.
       I would like to close with a message to the families of our 
     fallen comrades from one of the survivors of Jockey 14's 
     mission. It goes:
       These last days have gone by seemingly as part of a dream, 
     wishing you could just wake up and it would be over. For 
     reasons only known to God, it is not so. Why God would decide 
     to claim the lives of those, men, all together on such a 
     beautiful sunny afternoon, I will never know. I do know that 
     they have passed to a new life, with Christ. There is no 
     sorrow or grief where they are. I should have been next to 
     go, because I was there with them in death. One cannot stand 
     any closer. I know, for I stood with one foot in death. I was 
     going to die, I had no doubt. In those last seconds God 
     answered a question which we all have considered, our fear of 
     death and how we will react. Having been there, I can answer 
     for my friends. Death does not hold the fear we think it 
     does. In that last second of lucidity, it becomes so clear, 
     like a window. You can see through it and there is no way 
     around it. God lets us stand at that portal long enough to 
     realize its significance, and allows us to consider. That 
     last second stands still, and in it, God reaches out to us 
     with love and forgiveness and if we accept, he takes us by 
     the hand as we step into that new life. In Matthew 20:1-16, 
     Jesus explained to his Disciples that salvation is not about 
     owning a lifetime membership, it is enough to accept in that 
     last second. I know that in that last second, each one of 
     those men stepped through that portal hand in hand with 
     Christ, no regrets and looking forward.
       The memories they have left us in children, wives, and 
     families will be their legacy to us. I know they were sad to 
     leave us behind but their courage and confidence in what lay 
     ahead will be passed on to their children. Many people go 
     through an entire lifetime without ever being touched by the 
     lives of men like these. Even in such time of sorrow, there 
     is joy in having shared our lives with such brave and 
     wonderful men.

                          ____________________