Air National Guardsmen Remembered
Story & Photos Courtesy 141st ARW Public Affairs - Posted Feb, 2000
 |
Silently they emerge from buildings and cars and file toward a shrouded pinnacle. The somber figures shuffle into formation and await the 'final roll call'. Distinguished guests gather under the 13 flags of NATO to speak of those who could not be present. A lone bandsman raises his bugle and recites the mournful notes of 'taps'.
It is one year since four Washington Air National Guardsmen lost their lives in the crash of "Esso 77". In war and in peace the price of freedom is always high.
On January 13th, 1999, the crash of a Washington Air National Guard KC-135 tanker aircraft claimed the lives of Major David Fite, Captain Ken Thiele, Major Matthew Laiho and Technical Sergeant Rich Visintainer.
To commemorate their service and sacrifice a monument - a large, rough stone with a brass plaque inscribed with the names of the lost crewmen, encircled with shrubs - has been dedicated at Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base, Germany, near the site of the crash.
 |
On the same day a private commemoration for the families of the aircrew and for the members of the 141st Air Refueling Wing took place at Fairchild AFB, WA.
Colonel Jim Wynne, the Commander of the 141st Air Refueling Wing, headquartered at Fairchild AFB, WA, flew to Germany to attended the dedication officiated by Brigadier General Stieglitz, the Commander of Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base. The somber ceremony included the traditional flag lowering, a reading of the well-known poem "High Flight" by John Gillespie Magee Jr., and the playing of 'taps'.
(Poem)
"Talking with the people that had actually responded to the crash, those who were there to care for the 20 plus 141st folks who remained following the crash, was a great experience for me. So many people wanted to know how we were doing. It was very special", remarked Col Wynne.
 |
Shortly after the actual ceremony the base firefighters, led by Fire Chief Dieter Schmidt, the first responders to the crash one year ago, conducted a candlelight vigil and observed a moment of silence at the exact moment of the crash. The night of the crash Dieter and his men had to break through a concrete fence to reach the crash sight, awash with flames. Said Col Wynne, "The fact that they were not successful at their primary and most important mission, to save lives, even though we know now that the crash was not survivable... sticks with him still!"
 |
 |
"After having met people from many of the 13 nations that comprise NATO I left Geilenkirchen feeling that perhaps they were all brought a little closer together following the crash", said Col Wynne. " I was comforted in knowing that we were, and will continue to be, in very good hands... and hearts."
 |
 |
|
|