1Lt Dave Wyatt, died 9/3/92 in a Sheppard AFB T-38 while on a low level near Dyess AFB. He had volunteered to fly a morning low level support for a student having training difficulties and was killed when a turkey vulture hit the canopy. Dave was an ENJJPT classmate of my buddy and I met him when I came down for graduation. I showed up for training Veteran’s Day weekend 1991 and Dave graciously invited me over for a cookout and helped me get settled. Later, Dave was a T-38 instructor in my flight. We were scheduled to fly together for the first time the afternoon of 9/3/92.

https://nara.getarchive.net/media/2l...student-2612ae

https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!...ns/ObFn81cWQq0

Normandy France
 

Normandy France

A good friend got his Last Rights laying on the Tarmac Memorial Day. His unit had gotten ambushed. Though he has a few fragments still in him, he survived and is still alive to this day. He is a Southern boy, he was initially stationed at Fort Knox but thought it too cold there and volunteered for the warmer climate of Vietnam. He takes a lot of ribbing about his choice of duty stations.

In remembrance of my Viking brothers:

LT Don Cioffi
LT Tom Wilcox
Scout 705
USS John C. Stennis

LT Matt Moneymaker
LT Mike Meschke
Mauler 701
USS John F. Kennedy

We come from the land of the ice and snow
From the midnight sun, where the hot springs flow
The hammer of the gods
W'ell drive our ships to new lands
To fight the horde, and sing and cry
Valhalla, I am coming!

Eagle standing watch

https://stmedia.stimg.co/1tevlin0626...es&dpr=2&w=525

Viperstick,
I remember that incident well. But I never knew the name of the pilot. That incident is what pushed the new windscreen to the T-38 Fleet.

To your friend, Dave Wyatt.

Don't know if it's photo shopped Tom, but a beautiful picture regardless

The story behind the picture seems genuine:

'The eagle couldn't have picked a better person' - StarTribune.com

It does indeed.
Thanks for sharing the photo.

As we head into Memorial Day Weekend distracted by COVID and the MOAB...please remember those that have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.

CG