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PVA Statement – Passage of Elizabeth Dole Caregiver Bill, Urges President to Sign Swiftly

Tuesday, December 17th, 2024

Paralyzed Veterans of America Issues Statement in Response to Passage of Elizabeth Dole Caregiver Bill, Urges President to Sign Swiftly

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 16, 2024) – Paralyzed Veterans of America National President Robert Thomas issues the following statement in response to Congress passing the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. This legislation is a comprehensive bipartisan package of bills that expands services for veterans, their families and caregivers, as well as their survivors across healthcare, education, benefits, and more. The bill now heads to the president’s desk.

“Paralyzed Veterans of America is grateful to Congress for passing the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, a critical step forward in supporting the families and caregivers of our nation’s veterans, especially those with catastrophic injuries and diseases, like MS and ALS. This bipartisan effort reflects a shared commitment to honoring the sacrifices of those who have served by ensuring they and their caregivers receive the vital supports they desperately need. As this legislation now heads to the White House, we urge President Biden to swiftly sign it into law. We are too close to enacting life-changing support for veterans and their caregivers to delay any longer.”

PVA has long called on Congress to pass the Elizabeth Dole Act. To learn more about PVA’s efforts on this issue, visit PVA.org/PolicyPriorities, or check out our PVA Caregiver Video Series at PVA.org/Caregivers.

Gundam 22 U.S. – Japan Friendship Memorial: One Year on from Yakushima

Sunday, December 8th, 2024

YAKUSHIMA, Japan —

Close to 100 military and civilian personnel from the United States and Japan gathered at the Yakushima Town Hall Nov. 29, 2024 to attend a ceremony dedicating a cenotaph to the eight heroes who died when their CV-22B Osprey went down just off the coast of the island last year and the joint effort expended to search for and recover them.

The Gundam 22 U.S. – Japan Friendship Memorial, stands more than six feet tall and holds vigil over the Toshiro beach coastline, pointing visitors towards the spot the aircraft impacted the water. One of the only U.S monuments ever erected on Japanese soil, it represents a months-long, bilateral, volunteer effort that underscored the importance of the cenotaph to the American and Japanese personnel whose actions are now memorialized in stone, alongside portraits of all eight lost crew members.

The gathering at the town hall, which included family members of the deceased, was a fitting representation of the force assembled in the direct aftermath of the mishap. One year earlier, as locals witnessed the aircraft fall from the sky, it was local fishermen who were first on the scene, retrieving the first crew member from the waves near Anbo port and respectfully standing watch over his remains. The island’s fishermen would continue to contribute to the initial search and rescue operation, helping teams locate the site of the wreckage, and facilitating the use of the port for dive and recovery teams.

Among the first Japanese personnel on the ground in Yakushima to support the search and rescue effort was Haruo Morita, Deputy Director General, Bureau of Policies for Regional Society in the Japan Ministry of Defense. Mr. Morita would go on to stay on the island longer than any of his compatriots executing the search mission. As he delivered remarks at the dedication ceremony, he recalled the support received from the community in Yakushima.

“I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the people of the Kagoshima Prefecture and Yakushima Town, including the Yakushima Town Council and Yakushima Fishery Cooperative, for their great assistance and cooperation for 45 days, including the year-end and new year days, until January 12, 2024, when the search and recovery operations concluded.”

A ROBUST FRIENDSHIP CREATED

Yakushima Island is traditionally known for its beautiful peaks, ancient cedar woods and surreal vistas, but as the mammoth undertaking of finding and recovering the crew of Gundam 22 gained momentum and more personnel and equipment converged on the 500 square-kilometer island, this quiet community was about to be thrust into the international spotlight for a much different reason.

“It is an undeniable fact that although in the midst of tragedy of the Osprey mishap, a robust friendship was created between the U.S. Forces and the Yakushima Community.  I am certain that continuing to establish such a trusting relationship between our two countries will further strengthen our alliance.”

Morita’s words found truth in the make-up of the dedication gathering, which included U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission in Japan, Chargé d’affaires Katherine Monahan alongside Yakushima Town’s Mayor Koji Araki, Kagoshima Prefecture assemblymen, Yasuhiro Matsuzato and Shigeru Hidaka, and senior leaders from the Japan Self Defense Forces and multiple branches of the U.S. military.

Of those gathered, few were as intimately acquainted with the mission to recovery the lost Airmen and the wreckage of their craft as Rear Adm. Jeromy Williams. Williams, commander of Special Operations Command Pacific, received twice daily briefings on the progress of the search, recovery, and salvage efforts for over 45 days while operations persisted on the island. He witnessed the scope and impact of our Japanese partners’ contributions to the search.

“Overall, 21 Japanese Coast Guard and Navy ships came to our aide. Japan Coast Guard employed unmanned underwater vehicles, ROVs, and divers.  Japan Ground Self Defense Forces employed helicopters, activated reservists, and searched the cliffs, beaches, and shorelines.  Japan Air Self Defense Force sent aircraft, while police, business owners, local volunteers, the Fisherman’s Association, and Yakushima Woman’s association all remained determined in the search.”

MARKER OF A FINAL RESTING PLACE

Altogether, U.S. and Japanese forces searched 60,000 sq kilometers of water, 89 kilometers of Yakushima coastline and another 30 kilometers of coastline on neighboring Tanegashima, and 39 square kilometers of ocean floor. In just shy of two months, their search turned up 321 objects, and the remains of 7 crew members. The eighth, Maj. Eric Spendlove, has yet to be recovered, according to Mr. Morita a source of “deep regret” for the Japanese partners involved in the search. The cenotaph on the island now serving as a marker of his final resting place.

Instrumental to making the cenotaph a reality was Maj. Jake McCauley of the 353rd Special Operations Wing. One of the first Americans on the ground last November, he served as mission commander for the search, rescue, and recovery.

“It was a huge undertaking from the time we got here to when we finally closed the [Joint Operations Center]. Once it was coming to a close, we knew we wanted to do something here to thank the community for the help they gave us, and to honor the heroes we lost. Having a permanent place here for their families and the SOW to come and remember them and pay respects is awesome.”

For McCauley, the journey from search and rescue to the dedication of the cenotaph has represented a full circle experience, providing closure for him and many of the men and women involved in the operation. In the days leading up to ceremony, McCauley and more than a dozen volunteers from Kadena Air Base and Yokota Air Base engaged in beach clean-ups and beautification of the area around the cenotaph site.

A PHYSICAL ARTIFACT OF A ROCK-SOLID BOND

The monument itself is an extension of Yakushima, built by local craftsmen from monolithic stones taken from the same jagged shorelines where the crew of Gundam 22 met their fate. Across the top of the structure, eight portraits, chosen by the heroes’ families, are etched into the stone alongside their ranks and names. They’re held up on each side by two massive stone pillars each with inscriptions, one in English, the other in Japanese. They detail the crash, the scope of the search and rescue operations, and the contributions of the Yakushima Town community.

The inscription reads:

On the 29th of November 2023, one CV-22B Osprey, callsign GUNDAM 22, assigned to the 353d Special Operations Wing at Yokota Air Base, crashed off the coast of Yakushima Island, about 1KM northwest of this cenotaph, killing all eight U.S. service members aboard.

In the weeks following the mishap, an intensive period of 24/7 search and rescue efforts –and later recovery and salvage operations –were conducted by expert teams from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, U.S. Navy, Special Operations Command –Pacific, U.S. Forces Japan, the Japanese Ministry of Defense, Japan Self Defense Forces, Japan Coast Guard, local police, and many others from Yakushima and elsewhere in Japan and the U.S. In over 40 days of these combined efforts, the remains of seven out of eight Airmen were recovered and returned to their loved ones.

Throughout these operations, local public authorities, notably those from Yakushima town and Kagoshima prefecture, as well as civilian volunteers such as the Fishery Association and Women’s Association, extended generous and dedicated support to the search, rescue, recovery, and salvage efforts.

This cenotaph commemorates the souls of eight Heroes and enshrines the eternal commitment of all those involved to never again endure the same kind of mishap. May this monument also forever celebrate the steadfast friendship forged between U.S. Servicemembers and the people of Kagoshima who so warmly offered their unwavering support and partnership in our darkest days of shared tragedy.

Looking out to the ocean, the pillars and crossbeam frame a small area of the water, just shy of a kilometer away from the island’s lone airport, where the fateful flight ended.

Rear Adm. Williams, in his remarks at the town hall, summarized the symbolism of the cenotaph:

“Today’s dedication provides a physical artifact of the rock-solid bond between Japan and the United States.  It memorializes the faces of our fallen heroes, and records for posterity the benevolence of our Japanese allies.  The memorial stands watch over the waters that are the final resting place of our last missing teammate. It will serve as inspiration for generations to come that in our darkest hours, Japan and America will stand strong together.”

As the sun rose over the monument the day after the ceremony, it was evident that the Yakushima community had already embraced it, just as they had embraced the U.S. service members who came to their island a year ago. Groups of school children, elderly couples, and individual visitors came steadily throughout the morning, leaving traditional Japanese offerings, taking pictures, and praying. A day earlier, commander of the 353rd SOW, Col. Shawn Young said to the audience gathered at the dedication, “My hope is that this can now be a place of healing for two communities – American and Japanese together – who experienced this loss not just as allies, but as family.”

In memoriam: the crew of Gundam 22:

U.S. Air Force Maj. Jeffrey T. Hoernemann, 32, of Andover, Minnesota, was a CV-22 instructor pilot and officer in charge of training, assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Eric V. Spendlove, 36, of St. George, Utah, was a residency trained flight surgeon and medical operations flight commander assigned to the 1st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Luke A. Unrath, 34, of Riverside, California, was a CV-22 pilot and flight commander assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Terrell K. Brayman, 32, of Pittsford, New York, was a CV-22 pilot and flight commander assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Zachary E. Lavoy, 33, of Oviedo, Florida, was a medical operations flight chief assigned to the 1st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jake M. Turnage, 25, of Kennesaw, Georgia, was a flight engineer assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brian K. Johnson, 32, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was a flight engineer assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob “Jake” M. Galliher, 24, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was a Direct Support Operator assigned to the 43rd Intelligence Squadron, Detachment 1, Operating Location – Alpha, 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan. 43 IS Det 1 OL-A is a tenant unit in support of the 353rd Special Operations Wing.

By Capt Richard Caesar, 353rd Special Operations Wing

Remembering Our Lost – December 7th, 1941

Saturday, December 7th, 2024

The citizens of the island of Oahu awoke on the morning of December 7th, 1941, under attack by aircraft from the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Landscape

The surprise onslaught resulted in the death of 2402 Americans, including innocent civilians. In addition to those precious lives, America would lose four battleships like the USS Arizona seen above, which still sits at the bottom of Pearl Harbor as a memorial to their sacrifice.

American would rise as a sleeping giant from that act and bring the Empire of Japan to its knees along with their fellow axis of evil partners Germany and Italy.

America remains the land of the free and the home of the brave, woe be to anyone who tests that truth.

In Memoriam – COL (Ret) Warner D. “Rocky” Farr

Saturday, November 23rd, 2024

COL(R) Warner D. “Rocky” Farr

November 20, 2024 (Age 76)

Temple Terrace, Florida

Special Forces & MACV-SOG

DMOR 2016

SFA Chapter 60

SOA Mem# 1574

Dr. Rocky Farr passed away on November 20, 2024 while under hospice care in Tampa, FL. Awaiting obit.

Rocky Farr enlisted in Airborne in 1967. He was the distinguished honor graduate of his Special Forces medic class, and served as a team medic with 7th SFG(F). In Vietnam, he served as a medic and recon team member with MACV-SOG, CCS. He served with SGM Billy Waugh in Cambodia in an operation written about in the book “Chasing the Jackal. In 1971 he joined Det. A, Berlin. He became the SF instructor at Northeast Louisiana University. As an SFC, he taught in the SF Medical Course and was selected for promotion to MSG. He was then commissioned 2LT.

While a medical student, he was the medical platoon leader for the 11th SFG(A). Receiving his M.D. in 1983, he served as commander, Co. F (Abn), running the Special Operations Medical Sergeants Course. He was the Division surgeon of the 10th Mountain Division and deputy commander of the Aeromedical Center, Fort Rucker.

He attended Air War College before becoming deputy chief of staff, Surgeon, USASOC, and Surgeon, Special Forces Command and Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command. He served in Vietnam, Cambodia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait and Afghanistan.

May He Rest In Peace

Via Special Forces Taps, Facebook

FirstSpear Friday Focus: Veterans Day & USMC Birthday

Friday, November 8th, 2024

Today, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the courageous men and women who have served our nation, whether in times of war or peace. We honor their bravery, sacrifice, and unwavering resolve in the face of challenges. Their selflessness and dedication to a cause greater than themselves inspire us every day. To all veterans who have served our country, we offer our deepest thanks—your contributions to our nation will always be remembered.

At FirstSpear, we’re especially connected to the sacrifices veterans make, as many of our team members are veterans themselves who have served with honor. We are incredibly proud of their service and deeply appreciate the value they bring to our company.

We also want to wish happy 249th birthday to the United States Marine Corps.

Remembering the Battle of Mogadishu

Thursday, October 3rd, 2024

On this date in 1993, US service members were engaged in what is now known as the Battle of Mogadishu. A joint organization was formed named ” TF Ranger” to deploy to Mogadishu, Somalia in support of a UN-led humanitarian mission.

By October 3rd, they had been conducting operations for quite some time, but that day’s raid would be unlike anything they had experienced. The mission was to raid the city’s Olympic Hotel in order to capture key leaders of the Aidid Militia who had been opposing IN efforts to feed the locals.

Unfortunately, during the exfil portion of the raid, a battle ensued which claimed the lives of 18 Americans and wounded another 73. Additionally, CW3 Michael Durant was captured by the Aideed militia after being shot down while piloting his Blackhawk. Fortunately, Durant was later repatriated and went on to retire from the 160th.

Of the men killed that day, two would be awarded the Medal of Honor, Delta Operators Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart, for their selfless efforts to protect Durant after his aircraft, callsign Super 64, was shot down.

Last year, the US Army reevaluated the awards presented to the participants of that battle and amongst the Ranger element, upgraded 60 veteran’s awards including 58 Silver Stars and two Distinguished Flying Crosses. The order of battle included other organizations and their Soldiers have received similar upgrades.

If you are unfamiliar with the events, one of the best accounts of the battle is contained in the book, “Blackhawk Down” by author Mark Bowden. Much of the information was serialized prior to the book’s publication in the Philadelphia Enquirer. Later this was made into a movie bearing the same name.

Please take a moment to remember these men and their sacrifice.

Additionally, the 75th Ranger Regiment was created on this day in 1984, with the stand up of its 3rd Battalion. Four decades later, the Ranger Regiment boasts five battalions of some of the most elite warriors on the face of our planet.

Remembering 9/11 – In Honor of Flight 93

Wednesday, September 11th, 2024

Never Forget these fine people who were taken from us by evil men. Let’s honor the heroes of Flight 93 who made a fateful decision that they weren’t going to become pawns in a crazed attempt to decapitate our government. They took the enemy on, firsthand. They will always have our respect.

Let’s Roll!

The Crew
Jason Dahl
LeRoy Homer, Jr.
Lorraine Bay
Sandra Bradshaw
Cee Cee Lyles
Wanda Green
Deborah Anne Jacobs Welsh

The Passengers
Christian Adams
Todd Beamer
Alan Beaven
Mark Bingham
Deora Bodley
Marion Britton
Thomas E. Burnett Jr.
Willam Cashman
Georgine Rose Corrigan
Patricia Cushing
Joseph DeLuca
Patrick “Joe” Driscoll
Edward Porter Felt
Jane Folger
Colleen L. Fraser
Andrew Garcia
Jeremy Glick
Lauren Grandcolas
Donald F. Greene
Linda Gronlund
Richard Guadagno
Toshiya Kuge
Hilda Marcin
Waleska Martinez
Nicole Miller
Louis J. Nacke II
Donald and Jean Peterson
Mark “Mickey” Rothenberg
Christine Snyder
John Talignani
Honor Elizabeth Wainio
Kristin Gould White

We will not name the hijackers. May they forever be dishonored.

9/11 Remembered – The Toll

Wednesday, September 11th, 2024

On this 23rd commemoration of that fateful day which saw so many of us fling to corners of the earth to track down those behind this heinous act and bring them to justice, I want to remember the feeling of that day as it transpired. A feeling of helplessness. I want to remember it because I don’t ever want to have the feeling again.

There were 2996 immediate deaths on September 11th, 2001. I will never forget the people who cheered that day, celebrating an attack on America and the deaths of so many innocents. I woke up this morning and checked my usual news sites. Almost nothing about the events of 9/11/01. It took 23 years for America to forget its dead and abandon a unified purpose.

Regardless of which way the political winds blow, I remain a patriot. But in a greater sense, I will also always honor those from other nations who stood with us on that day and throughout the ensuing decades of conflict. After all, there were victims from 90 countries on 9/11. A sick ideology attacked the world and despite our efforts, it lives on, dug in like a tick.

The crisis remains. Every year we lose more and more amazing people to issues caused by those events. Victims and rescuers alike suffer life threatening medical conditions due to the exposure to toxins during the attacks and continue to succumb to these lingering wounds. As a country, we must stand by them.

Even now, the world is faced with the continued threat of Islamic fundamentalism that targets our ideals in both word and deed. We must oppose them in every case, lest our efforts thus far, be in vain.

The toll…it weighs on.

Never Forgive, Never Forget