The AIG 4/14/2019
"Once a PJ, Always a PJ"
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David Alan Mertens
Dec 05, 1957 – Mar 12, 2019
David Alan Mertens, age 61, died unexpectedly from heart failure at his lake home outside of Anchorage, Alaska on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. He was born on December 5, 1957, in West Bend, Wisconsin to
Russell and Jean (Lemke) Mertens.
Dave was the youngest of four children. He was a 1976 graduate from West Bend East High School. Dave married Linda Cannavo on June 14, 1983 and together they raised two children, Nicky and Adam.
Dave joined the United States Air Force in January 1983. After graduating from Pararescue training in 1984, he was stationed at Osan AFB, Korea for one year. The family moved to Alaska in July 1985 where he served in the 71st Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron until 1990 when he transferred to the Alaska Air National Guard, 210th Rescue Squadron. Dave continued to be a Pararescueman until 2000 when he retrained into the Command and Control career field and was assigned to the 176th Wing Command
Post. In 2010 Dave was then assigned to the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center until his retirement in 2012. Awards and decorations included the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Achievement Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Combat Readiness Medal and Air Force Good Conduct medal.
Dave was a private person, but he loved occasions to visit and share stories with friends and coworkers. He had a special knack for striking up conversations with neighbors and people he met in the restaurant or at the hardware store. It might not be an exaggeration to say that Dave loved his “critters” even more than most people. Dave’s lifelong passion was for birds of all types. He raised ducks growing up in Wisconsin, and in Anchorage as an adult expanded his flock to include cockatiels,
parrots, chickens and doves.
David is survived by his companion of 15 years, Barbara Donatelli; son Adam Gebhard; daughter Nicole “Nicky” Stark (John); Linda Mertens; his three siblings, Mary Bigler Little, New Glarus, WI; Steve (Bernice) Mertens, Coloma, WI; Patrick (Connie) Mertens, Kiel, WI; and his nieces and a nephew. David was preceded in death by his parents.
A military service will be held on Thursday, April 18, 2019 at Fort Richardson National Cemetery. Attendees are asked to assemble at the Security Hut at the JBER main gate (Arctic Valley exit off Glenn Highway) at 2:00 p.m. where they will be escorted to the cemetery. A reception will follow at the 212th Rescue Squadron - Pararescue Section.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alaska Bird Club, P.O. Box 101825, Anchorage, AK 99510 www.alaskabirdclub.org.
Condolence cards can be sent to the family at the above address.
Some of us did not know Dave or just met him in passing with a hand shake. Those that worked with and knew him hold him in high regard as a warrior PJ, who now joins the squadron of PJ Rescue Angels
who have made their final jump.
When one of our PJ brothers passes it takes a piece of our hearts with him. It would be immensely appreciated if those who have stories would write and share them with the family.
John L. Pighini
Vice President, PJ Assn.
Air Drop Call
Teams are Deployed and Standing by
Help us show the Troups
We're filling up boxes with 60 pouches of SeaBear Ready-To-Eat Salmon, to send to PJ's and CRO's stationed overseas, as a treat from back home, and to let them know we are thinking about them.
For every pouch you buy to donate, SeaBear will match it 100% by adding another pouch. When the case is filled with 60 pouches we'll ship it off, and start another one for the next Deployed unit!
Buy one pouch to contribute, and we’ll match it with another. Buy 5 pouches, and we'll put in 5 more, and so on—or, buy 30 and its your Air Drop!!!
Buy a case of 30 for $210 and we will send 2 cases to Deployed PJ's and CRO's
*with a case, you get to add a card from you to the order.
can't buy a case, buy as many at $7 a pouch and we well will build up a case.
Make sure to add a comment and let us know what your donation is for.
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PJA Members gathering and Flying the Pararescue Flag
PJ Luncheon during the Jolly Green
Saturday May 4th, 12 pm
AJ's Oyster Shanty
108 Santa Rosa Blvd, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
Jolly Green Reunion
Make sure you have your Jolly Green Sun Glasses
Free shipping for those who order now to be sent to Ft Walton for pick up.
Make sure you have your Beret too.
Please help use update and correct the information on those who lost their lives in the line of duty. We need the dates and locations Please, research and make sure its correct. Email back any information to; bill.watson@pjassociation.com
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Name
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Rank
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AFS
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Date
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Operation
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Combat/Training/Other
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Note
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Arnott, Victor L. (Jr)
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PJ
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Nov 1980
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Training
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Red Flag?
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Horton, John C.
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E-7
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PJ
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Aug 2002
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Training
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Ft. Hunter Liggget, CA
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Rowe, Thomas "Tom"
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PJ
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60s?
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Training
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Navy Dive School, Key West, FL (diving?)
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Scherman, John
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E-5
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PJ
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1982
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Training
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Helo Crash (HH-53C)
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London, Jack
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PJ
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1948
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Training
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Enis, Carl P.
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E-5
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PJ
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15-Mar-18
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OIR
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Combat
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Helo Crash (Jolly 51)
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Posch, William "Bill"
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E-7
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PJ
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15-Mar-18
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OIR
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Combat
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Helo Crash (Jolly 51)
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Barton, Sean
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E-6
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PJ
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30-Oct-14
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N/A
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Training
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Kathmandu, Nepal
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McCaskill, Nicholas
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E-9
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PJ
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6-Apr-13
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OEF
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Other
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AFRC KIA as DoS Contractor
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Zerbe, Daniel
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E-6
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PJ
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5-Aug-11
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OEF
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Combat
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Helo Crash (CH-47D, Extortion 17)
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Brown, John
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E-6
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PJ
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5-Aug-11
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OEF
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Combat
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Helo Crash (CH-47D, Extortion 17)
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White, Benjamin
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E-4
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PJ
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9-Jun-10
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OEF
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Combat
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Helo Crash (HH-60G, Pedro 66)
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Flores, Michael
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E-6
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PJ
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9-Jun-10
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OEF
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Combat
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Helo Crash (HH-60G, Pedro 66)
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Duffman, Scott
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E-6
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PJ
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18-Feb-07
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OEF
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Combat
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Helo Crash (MH-47)
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Maltz, Michael
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E-7
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PJ
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23-Mar-03
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OEF
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Combat
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Helo Crash (HH-60G, Komodo 11)
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Plite, Jason
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E-4
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PJ
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23-Mar-03
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OEF
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Combat
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Helo Crash (HH-60G, Komodo 11)
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Cunningham, Jason
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E-4
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PJ
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4-Mar-02
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OEF
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Combat
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Op Anaconda (MH-47, Razor 1)
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Rigout, Juan
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E-5
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PJ
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22-Feb-02
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OEF
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Combat
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Helo Crash (MH-47, Wild 42,Op training mission,
Phillipines)
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McDaniel, William
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E-7
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PJ
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21-Feb-02
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OEF
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Combat
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Helo Crash (MH-47, Wild 42,Op training mission,
Phillipines)
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Eccleston, Douglas
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E-5
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PJ
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7-Dec-01
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N/A
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Other
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Civil SAR msn (Rescue 860)
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Jones, Wayne
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E-6
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PJ
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26-Sep-98
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N/A
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Training
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MFF
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Stewart, Jesse D.
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E-4
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PJ
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3-Sep-98
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N/A
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Training
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Helo Crash (HH-60G, Jolly 38)
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Wotasik, Justin
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E-3
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PJ
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3-Sep-98
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N/A
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Training
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Helo Crash (HH-60G, Jolly 38)
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McDermott, Sean
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E-4
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PJ
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13-Aug-98
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N/A
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Training
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MFF
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Kutscher, Jason C.
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E-4
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PJ
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6-Oct-94
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N/A
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Training
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Helo Crash (HH-60G, Jolly 04, Power line strike, Joch Weon,
Korea)
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Setaro, Richard M.
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E-4
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PJ
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6-Oct-94
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N/A
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Training
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Helo Crash (HH-60G, Jolly 04, Power line strike, Joch Weon,
Korea)
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McKenna, Kevin P.
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E-5
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PJ
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7-Oct-93
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OSW?
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Other
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MI during deployed PT
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Smtih, Arden "Rick"
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E-6
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PJ
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30-Oct-91
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N/A
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Other
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Helo Ditch (HH-60, Jolly 110-Perfect
storm)
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Carlyle, Steven
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E-5
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PJ
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1-Sep-88
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N/A
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Training
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Helo Crash (HH-3E)
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Purchiaroni, Leo M.
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E-4
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PJ
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2-Apr-86
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N/A
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Training
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HC-130 Crash (King 11, Magdalena, NM)
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Kimbrel, Robert W. (Jr)
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E-5
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PJ
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2-Apr-86
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N/A
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Training
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HC-130 Crash (King 11, Magdalena, NM)
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Perron, Michael D.
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E-5
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PJ
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2-Apr-86
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N/A
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Training
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HC-130 Crash (King 11, Magdalena, NM)
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McGee, John R.
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E-6
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PJ
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2-Apr-86
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N/A
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Training
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HC-130 Crash (King 11, Magdalena, NM)
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Gilbert, John R.
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E-5
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PJ
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15-Jan-85
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N/A
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Other
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Helo Crash (HH-53C, Jolly ??)
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Judy, Mark
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E-5
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PJ
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7-Apr-84
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N/A
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Training
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Helo Crash (CH-3, Jolly18)
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Ferreira, James
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E-3
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PJ
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7-Apr-84
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N/A
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Training
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Helo Crash (CH-3, Jolly18)
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Anderson, Scott
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E-5
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PJ
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28-Feb-84
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N/A
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Training
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C-130E Crash (near Borja, Spain)
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Jones, Jeffery Y.
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E-5
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PJ
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11-Apr-83
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N/A
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Other
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HC-130 ?? (King ??)
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Crockford, Mark L
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|
PJ
|
10-Jun-81
|
|
Training
|
|
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Curtis, Raleigh
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|
PJ
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20-Apr-79
|
|
Training
|
|
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Lambert, David D.
|
E-5
|
PJ
|
13-Jun-78
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N/A
|
Training
|
Helo Crash (HH-3E, Jolly 85)
|
|
Hursh, Scott B.
|
E-5
|
PJ
|
13-Jun-78
|
N/A
|
Training
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Helo Crash (HH-3E, Jolly 85)
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|
Snyder, Allan C.
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E-7
|
PJ
|
13-Jun-78
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N/A
|
Training
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Helo Crash (HH-3E, Jolly 85)
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|
Zimmerman, Lawrence
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E-4
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PJ
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12-Jul-77
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N/A
|
Training
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Parachute Acident
|
|
Koecher, Robert
|
E-5
|
PJ
|
22-Oct-73
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N/A
|
Training
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Helo Crash (HH-3 near Osan, Korea)
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|
Walker, Michael
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E-6
|
PJ
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10-Jul-73
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Vietnam
|
Combat
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Helo Crash (died injuries post crash)
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|
Flowers, William
|
E-6
|
PJ
|
30-Apr-72
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N/A
|
Training
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Alpine training fall in UK
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|
Pearson, William R.
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E-4
|
PJ
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6-Apr-72
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Vietnam
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Combat
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Helo Shoot down (HH-53, Jolly Green 67)
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|
Avery, Alan
|
E-6
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PJ
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6-Apr-72
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Vietnam
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Combat
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Helo Shoot down (HH-53, Jolly Green 67)
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|
Crow, Raymond J. (Jr)
|
E-4
|
PJ
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27-Mar-72
|
Vietnam
|
Combat
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Helo Crash (HH-53, Jolly Green 61)
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|
Wagner, Raymond A.
|
E-3
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PJ
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27-Mar-72
|
Vietnam
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Combat
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Helo Crash (HH-53, Jolly Green 61)
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Prose, Thomas D.
|
E-3
|
PJ
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25-Nov-71
|
Vietnam
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Combat
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Helo Shoot down (HH-53, Jolly Green 70)
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Thomas, James R.
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E-6
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PJ
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25-Nov-71
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Vietnam
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Combat
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Helo Shoot down (HH-53, Jolly Green 70)
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Dean, Michael F.
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E-5
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PJ
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30-Jun-70
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Vietnam
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Combat
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Helo Crash (HH-53)
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Jenkins, Paul L.
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E-7
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PJ
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30-Jun-70
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Vietnam
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Combat
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Helo Crash (HH-53, Jolly Green 54)
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Davis, Luther E.
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E-5
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PJ
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25-May-70
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Vietnam
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Combat
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Helo Crash (HH-3E)
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Sutton, William C.
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E-7
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PJ
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28-Jan-70
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Vietnam
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Combat
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Helo Crash (HH-53, Jolly Green 71)
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Pruett, William, D.
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E-8
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PJ
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28-Jan-70
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Vietnam
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Combat
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Helo Crash (HH-53, Jolly Green 71)
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Davison, David M.
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E-3
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PJ
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15-Dec-69
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Vietnam
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Combat
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Helo Crash (HH-53)
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Reindl, Paul
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E-5
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PJ
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5-Feb-69
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N/A
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Other
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HC-130 Ditch (King ??, off Taiwan)
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King, Charles D.
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E-6
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PJ
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25-Dec-68
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Vietnam
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Combat
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Helo Crash (HH-3E)
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Locker, James D.
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E-4
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PJ
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9-Jun-68
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Vietnam
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Combat
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Helo Crash (HH-3E, Jolly Green 23)
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Maysey, Larry W.
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E-4
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PJ
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9-Nov-67
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Vietnam
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Combat
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Helo Crash (HH-3E, Jolly Green 26)
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Adams, Stephen H.
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E-7
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PJ
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18-Oct-66
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Vietnam
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Combat
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Helo Crash (HU-16, Crown Bravo)
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Berry, Robert L.
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E-5
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PJ
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23-Jul-66
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Vietnam
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Combat
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Ground combat
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Pitsenbarger, William
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E-4
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PJ
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11-Apr-66
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Vietnam
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Combat
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Ground combat
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Pleiman, James E.
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E-4
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PJ
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14-Mar-66
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Vietnam
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Combat
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Helo Crash (HU-16, Crown Bravo)
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Cohen, Harry
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E-6
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PJ
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19-Jun-65
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Vietnam
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Combat
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Helo Crash (HH-43, Maple 02)
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Carlton, Larry W.
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PJ
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29-Jun-64
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Training
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Hubble, James C.
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PJ
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14-Jan-51
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Training
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O'Dell, Robert M.
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PJ
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Training
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Novak, Joseph
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PJ
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Training
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Mayze
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PJ
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Training
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Whipple, John
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PJ
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Training
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Burns, Robert
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PJ
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Training
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Jennings
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PJ
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Combat
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Start Planning for September 2020 PJ Reunion and Rodeo in Lake Tahoe
Who's The Best Special Warfare Operator
Congratulations to PJ's and CRO's from
Graduation Class 18-04
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FORMER PARARESCUEMEN WANTED
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With the addition of the PJA Life Memberships,
The BOD's have voted to end the need for the 80 year old rule
We will accept anyone that is current on dues to make the upgrade to their 80th birthday until end of April 2019
This was added because we did not have a life membership, now we do!
Get your PJ Association Life Membership today
Click the Cert below to start
Get your Life Membership Pin and two Awesome Window Stickers
New for 2019 Purchases *
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Next PJ/CRO Graduation is August 23rd, 2019, be there.
He's back
Charlie that is, make sure you get your Charlie Doll before they are all gone.
Click his photo to go to the PJ Store
Thank you to all our Sponsors
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| Pararescue Association Officers:
- President - Bill Watson
- Vice Pres. - John Pighini
- Treasurer - Ryan Beckmann
- Recorder - Scott Gearen
Association Board Member:
- Rod Alne
- Joe Topel
- L.D. Jeffries
- Steve West
Past Association Presidents:
- Roy Taylor
- Randy Galloway
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