Shadowscope

“He believed in serving his country,” said Ross’ father, David C. Ross. Gary Anderson, Ross’ best friend and an Army infantry veteran who served nine months in Afghanistan and 11 months in Iraq during his active duty stint, was a classmate of Ross at Marana’s Mountain View High School. “You know, I heard this news of Ken and I broke down and cried hysterically,” said Anderson, now a firefighter for the Ak-Chin Indian Community in Maricopa. “He loved everyone; everyone who came in contact with him loved him. He’d always help everyone out that he could.”

A 1999 graduate of Mountain View, Ross played drums in the marching band and orchestra, his father said. Ross enlisted in the Army right after graduation. “He just wanted to take part in history,” Anderson said.

At the time of his death, he was a helicopter mechanic — acting as a door gunner on his last mission, his father said. SSgt. Ross was killed when his helicopter went down southwest of Deh Chopan, Afghanistan. Also killed in the crash were Sgt. Shawn A. Graham, Warrent Officer Adrian B. Stump, Sgt. Tane T. Baum, Chief Warrent Officer 2 John M. Flynn and Sgt. Patrick D. Stewart.

Alan R. Blohm enlisted in the Army in 2004 because “He wanted to serve the country,” his brother Jeremy said. “His grandfather had been in the Army, and it’s just something he wanted to do.”

Blohm graduated in 2004 from Bay City Western High School, where he was a 250-pound defensive player for the football team. Blohm’s size prompted coach Jim Eurick to nickname him “Biggins Blohm,” his brother recalled. “I know he paid the ultimate sacrifice with his life,” Mark Boileau, Blohm’s former school Principal, said. “We know Alan will be in a better place because of the sacrifice he made, because of his love for our country.”

 Marine Logistics Group, Marine Forces Reserve
October 1, 2006

With sleet gushing from gunmetal gray clouds, some 30 Marines standing in three trim lines saluted the U.S. flag that four of their brethren used to christen a new pole.

A large engraved stone set at the base of the 38-foot pole explained the occasion: “In memory of Corporal Aaron L. Seal. Who gave his life for our country. 1982-2006.”

The Marines from Engineer Company B joined several dozen community residents and well-wishers at a ceremony Wednesday honoring Seal, the 23-year-old Elkhart reservist who died last fall in Iraq. Seal’s family also attended the 20-minute tribute at Elkhart Community Schools’ administration building adjacent to Memorial High School — the fallen Marine’s alma mater.

“Chief Airey was an Airman’s Airman and one of the true pioneers for our service,” said Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff. “He was a warrior, an innovator… and a leader with vision well ahead of his time. His legacy lives today in the truly professional enlisted force we have serving our nation… and for that we owe him a debt of gratitude.”

Chief Airey was born in Quincy, Mass., on December 13, 1923. At age eighteen, shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December, 7, 1941, Airey quit high school to enlist in the Army Air Forces on November 16, 1942. He later earned his high school equivalency certificate through off-duty study. During World War II he flew as a B-24 radio operator and additional duty aerial gunner. On his 28th mission, then-Technical Sergeant Airey and his fellow crewmen were shot down over Vienna, Austria, captured, and held prisoner by the German air force from July 1944 to May 1945. During his time as a prisoner of war he worked tirelessly to meet the basic needs of fellow prisoners, even through a 90-day forced march.

Chief Airey held the top enlisted from April 3, 1967 to July 31, 1969. During his tenure he worked to change loan establishments charging exorbitant rates outside the air base gates and to improve low retention during the Vietnam Conflict. Chief Airey also led a team that laid the foundation for the Weighted Airman Promotion System, a system that has stood the test of time and which is still in use today. He also advocated for an Air Force-level Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy. His vision became reality when the academy opened in 1973, becoming the capstone in the development of Air Force Senior NCOs. Chief Airey retired August 1, 1970. He continued advocating for Airmen’s rights by serving on the boards of numerous Air Force and enlisted professional military organizations throughout the years. He was a member of the Board of Trustees for the Airmen Memorial Museum, a member of the Air Force Memorial Foundation and the Air University Foundation.

On the north wall of the Air Force Memorial in Washington D.C., Chief Airey’s thoughts on Airmen are immortalized, “When I think of the enlisted force, I see dedication, determination, loyalty and valor.” The Air Force Association honored Airey with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.