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Archive for the ‘Memorial’ Category

Remembering The Fallen Of Operation Eagle Claw

Monday, April 24th, 2017

Today marks the anniversary of Operation Eagle Claw. In the early morning hours of 25 April, 1980 President Carter announced to a stunned world that the United States had undertaken an ambitious raid into Iran to liberate 52 American hostages held illegally at our Embassy in Tehran. Unfortunately, Operation Eagle Claw was unsuccessful and we lost eight American servicemen in a horrible aircraft ground collision. Join me in remembering their sacrifice.

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Their sacrifice was not in vain. The hostages were eventually repatriated and the accident was the watershed event that created over the next several decades, the world’s preeminent Special Operations capability; USSOCOM and its components. We wouldn’t be where are today without the determination of that fledgling task force. Join me in remembering those that had the guts to try.

Kevin O’Brien aka ‘Weapons Man’ Has Passed Away

Sunday, April 23rd, 2017

Unfortunately, I must report that Kevin O’Brien passed away last week from a massive heart attack. Many SSD readers may know of him from work on his blog, weaponsman.com. While I didn’t know him personally, I was an admirer of his knowledge. Kevin was an Army Veteran and served in Special Forces, on active duty as well as in both the Guard and Reserves. In 2003, he deployed to Afghanistan.

He will be missed. The family has planned a memorial service on 11 June. Details are available on weaponsman.com.

Brad Meyers 1941-2017

Thursday, March 23rd, 2017

Founder and CEO Emeritus of B.E. Meyers & Co. Inc.

Bradley Edward Meyers: 1941-2017
It is with great sadness that the family and employees of B.E. Meyers & Co. Inc. announce the recent death of our Founder, Chief Innovator, and friend, Bradley Edward Meyers. Brad passed from this earth on the evening of 21 March, 2017, after complications due to a recent illness, and he was surrounded by family in his final moments at home. We are stunned and heartbroken by his loss.

Passionate. Positive. Persistent.
Brad graduated from high school in Brookfield, Wisconsin in 1959, afterwards attending a semester of college before leaving to follow his entrepreneurial spirit and make his own way. Brad held a variety of jobs over the years, such as selling orange juice and encyclopedias door-to-door in the 1960’s, truck driver, grave digger, medical and scientific equipment salesman at Roemer-Karr, explosives technician at EXCOA, commercial diver at his company Controlled Dynamics, astronomer, night vision equipment manufacturer, and lastly as the individual that set B.E. Meyers & Co. Inc. on our current path of systems integration and advanced photonics. He was the consummate entrepreneur, and was unwavering in his positive outlook in life, passion for new ideas, and persistent pursuit of his goals.

Innovation and Imagination
Brad’s legacy is primarily known by many in the Special Operations community through his products such as the IZLID™, DIAL™, GLARE™, MK Ranger™, and GRI2P™ series of lasers, as well as the B.E. Meyers Flash Hider line. He cited that his special gift was in finding the right people to help him reapply existing technologies in new ways to help the Warfighter. He was terrifically proud of the tremendous team that helped bring his ideas to life, and his legacy will continue on as the company is propelled by his infectious enthusiasm for the new, the different, and the exciting.

Memorial
Brad is mourned by his wife of forty-four years, Nancy; sons: Clint and Matthew; daughter, Rebecca; grandchildren: Jack and Alena; son-in-law, John; and daughter-in-law, Nicolle. Brad was preceded in death by his father, Alfred Arthur Meyers and his mother, Mabel Heidtman of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

He also leaves behind his faithful friend and tireless canine companion, Shadow.

The family extends their sincere thanks to the first responders of Eastside Fire and Rescue (WA), King County Sheriff’s Office (WA), and Sammamish Police Department (WA) for their support during this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, the Meyers family asks that donations be made in Brad’s honor to charities that align with his interests, specifically, the Special Operations Care Fund, the National Rifle Association ILA, and his home church, the Community Church of Joy in Sammamish, WA.

Memorial service information will be forthcoming to industry, family, and friends. For questions regarding memorial attendance, please contact Mary Hance at mary.hance@bemeyers.com.

London, We Are With You

Wednesday, March 22nd, 2017

I was shocked to hear of today’s terror attack on the British people.  

We mourn with you as you grieve your losses.  We stand beside you, as you bring those responsible to justice. 

Inglorious Amateurs –  Oxcart Memorial T-Shirt Pre-Order

Sunday, March 19th, 2017

April 26 2017 marks the 55th anniversary of the maiden flight of Article 121, the first A-12 to be test flown from Project OXCART. Few aircraft have captivated the aviation community (and in this case, the intelligence community) as much as the A-12. Project Oxcart involved the classified development of the A-12 aircraft as a symbol of the successful collaboration of the Intelligence Community, the Defense Department, and private industry to create a national strategic asset that our adversaries never dreamed possible.

This Memorial Shirt shows an artistic rendering of Article 128 as it sits on display at HQS (CIA Headquarters for the uninitiated) in Langley, Virginia. The stars, larger versions of the stars on the Memorial Wall, shine brightly from the front of Article 128 as a reminder to all who see it, that the mission of the Central Intelligence Agency is not only important to our way of life but, at times, requires the ultimate sacrifice.


The Two Memorial Stars Represent:

Walter Ray: During a routine A-12 training flight on January 5, 1967, a fuel gauge failed to function properly, and the aircraft ran out of fuel only minutes before landing. The pilot, Walter Ray, ejected but was killed when he was unable to separate from the ejection seat before impact. The aircraft was completely destroyed. Its wreckage was found on January 6, and Ray’s body was recovered a day later.

Jack Weeks: The second pilot fatality in the program occurred during this drawdown. On 4 June 1968 Jack Weeks was in Article 129 on a checkout flight after an engine change for the trip to the United States. He was last heard from 520 miles east of Manila. No trace of the plane was found, and an investigation turned up no clue about the cause of the crash. Signals received about a half hour into the flight from the onboard BIRDWATCHER monitoring system indicated engine trouble; a catastrophic failure was the most likely explanation.

The back features the Inglorious Amateurs shield logo.

Professionally screened on the perfect 60/40 blend cotton/poly shirt like all our offerings. Please remember these run on the athletic side, order accordingly.

Available now as a pre-sale only, from 12 March 2017 until 31 March 2017. We expect to ship the 2nd week of April.

www.ingloriousamateurs.com/product/oxcart-shirt

Rest In Peace Jim Schatz

Saturday, March 18th, 2017

Unfortunately, I have to report that Jim Schatz has passed away. He served his country as a paratrooper and later, became a legend in the small arms industry.

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I first met Jim while he was at H&K. He ran one helluva a weapons demo and was extremely knowledgeable about small arms as well as the US military’s acquisition of them.

He will be missed.

Rest In Peace – LTG Hal Moore

Sunday, February 12th, 2017

We are saddened to report the passing of LTG Hal Moore (USA, Ret) on Friday evening.  LTG Moore served his country for 32 years in the United States Army with combat service in both Korea and Vietnam.  In fact, you may know his story as Batallion Commander of the 1st of the 7th Cav, deployed to Vietnam as part of the 1st Cavalry Division’s 3rd Brigade.  During the fabled Battle of Ia Drang, Moore led his unit to victory over a numerically superior enemy.  This engagement was chronicled in the book, “We were Soldiers once…and young” by Moore and journalist Joseph Galloway who witnessed the battle firsthand.  The book was made into a movie named “We Were Soldiers” starring Mel Gibson.  His accomplishments didn’t stop at that the end of that battle.  LTG Moore went on to lead several other units and institute numerous policies which were adopted Army-wide as it transitioned from compulsory service to and all-volunteer force.  

He was 94.  One could only hope for a life as full as that great leader.  May he Rest In Peace.

Peter G Kokalis – A Memorial

Thursday, January 26th, 2017

During SHOT Show, it came to our attention that Army Veteran and Gun Writer, Peter G Kokalis has passed away on January 14th. 

I first learned of Mr Kokalis as a kid, reading his reviews of weapons of war, in Soldier of Fortune magazine.  

Later, he worked for Small Arms Review.  Most recently, he was senior editor of Firearms News (formerly Shotgun News).

He definitely had an impact on my professional career as well as those of many others.  

May he Rest In Peace.