DOD Casualty Report

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific - Hawaii

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of four airmen who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died April 27, near Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, in the crash of an MC-12 aircraft. The cause of the crash is under investigation, however initial reporting indicates there was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the crash. Killed were:

+CPT Brandon L. Cyr, 28, of Woodbridge, VA. He was assigned to the 906th Air Refueling Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, IL
+CPT. Reid K. Nishizuka, 30, of Kailua, Hawaii. He was assigned to the 427th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale Air Force Base, CA
+SSGT Richard A. Dickson, 24, of Rancho Cordova, CA. He was assigned to the 306th Intelligence Squadron, Beale Air Force Base, CA
+SSGT Daniel N. Fannin, 30, of Morehead, KY. He was assigned to the 552nd Operations Support Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, OK

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died April 23, in Pul-E-Alam, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from enemy indirect fire. The soldiers were assigned to the 2nd Aviation Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY. Killed were:       

+CPT Aaron R. Blanchard, 32, of Selah, WA
+1LT Robert J. Hess, 26, of Fairfax, VA   

Vietnam War MIA identified

Keokuk National Cemetery - Iowa

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that a Navy pilot, missing from the Vietnam War, has been accounted for and will be buried with full military honors along with his crew.

Navy +Lt. Dennis W. Pet...erson of Huntington Park, CA, was the pilot of a SH-3A helicopter that crashed in Ha Nam Province, North Vietnam. Peterson was accounted for on March 30, 2012. Also, aboard the aircraft was +Ensign Donald P. Frye of Los Angeles, CA.; +Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Technicians William B. Jackson of Stockdale, TX; and +Donald P. McCrae of Waverly, Iowa. The crew will be buried, as a group, on May 2 at Arlington National Cemetery.

On July 19, 1967, the four servicemen took off from the USS Hornet aboard an SH-3A Sea King helicopter, on a search and rescue mission looking for a downed pilot in Ha Nam Province, North Vietnam. During the mission, an enemy concealed 37mm gun position targeted the helicopter as it flew in. The helicopter was hit by the anti-aircraft gunfire, causing the aircraft to lose control, catch fire and crash, killing all four servicemen.

In October 1982, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) repatriated five boxes of remains to U.S. officials. In 2009, the remains within the boxes were identified as Frye, Jackson, and McGrane.

In 1993, a joint U.S./S.R.V. team, investigated a loss in Ha Nam Province. The team interviewed local villagers who identified possible burial sites linked to the loss. One local claimed to have buried two of the crewmen near the wreckage, but indicated that both graves had subsequently been exhumed.

Between 1994 and 2000, three joint U.S./S.R.V. teams excavated the previous site and recovered human remains and aircraft wreckage that correlated to the crew’s SH-3A helicopter. In 2000, U.S. personnel excavated the crash site recovering additional remains. Analysis from the Joint POW/MIA Command Central Identification Laboratory subsequently designated these additional remains as the co-mingled remains of all four crewmen, including Peterson.

DoD scientists used forensic tools and circumstantial evidence in the identification of the remains.

It's Official!

Stevensville UMC 

Parsonage

Stevensville, MT with the Bitterroot Mountains to the west of town  

Here is the letter that is being read this morning at the Stevensville UMC:          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 April 26, 2013

Stevensville United Methodist Church
216 College St.
Stevensville, MT 59870

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I am writing to share with you that Bishop Elaine Stanovsky intends to appoint the Rev. Dr. Charles Alkula as pastor of the Stevensville United Methodist Church, effective July 1, 2013. 

Appointments will be finalized at the Annual Conference session in June.  You are free to announce this to the congregation beginning this Sunday, April 28.

I pray God’s blessing on this congregation and on Rev. Dr. Alkula and his wife Belinda during this time of transition.

May the Holy Spirit enliven and guide your ministry to the people of your community,

 
Your Brother in Christ,

Rev. John Daniels,

District Superintendent,
Western Mountains District, Yellowstone Conference, The United Methodist Church

Lunch in Kerrville

Belinda, Marie & Wanda

Marie, Charles & Wanda

We had a wonderful time today - we met up with Wanda Morrow and Marie Richardson (members of the First UMC in Iraan) for lunch at the Lakehouse Restaurant in Kerrville.  It was so much fun catching up with these ladies and the wonderful people we left behind in Iraan!!

Day three of our April trip

Montana artwork

On the road to Spokane

Snow in April!

Snow in the hills!

Oh, the places you will go!

We had a busy day yesterday - five states in our travels!  We started off in Missoula, Montana and ended up at home in San Antonio, Texas - in between was a drive through the panhandle of Idaho, the airport in Spokane, Washington, and a plane change in Las Vegas, Nevada!

Day two of our April trip

Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

A sign of things to come?

 We made it to Spokane, Washington late last night, after a quick stop in Denver.

This morning, we hit the road early, bound for Montana on I-90.  The scenery was breathtaking along the route, in particular the area around Coeur d'Alene, Idaho!  It was so nice to see snow on the mountains, the flowing rivers and the huge trees!

Tonight we visit with a congregation in Montana to explore ministry in this region.  Praise be to God for all sorts of possibilities in His Kingdom!

On Our Way!

A welcome sign in San Antonio

Catching up on the news in Denver

Our bag is checked, and now we are relaxing at the San Antonio airport -- all ready for our flight to Denver .... and then on to Spokane, Washington, where we will stay the night.  Stay tuned for what comes next... Yea, God!!!
 

Today's Road Trip in Texas: Yee-haw!

Charles had fun ... posing with a new friend, "Bucky the Beaver"  while on his road trip in Texas today.  He is on his way to a business meeting in Temple.  Praise God for unexpected stops along life's highways and bi-ways! 

St. George's Day!

Sunday Afternoon in Downtown San Antonio, Texas: Yee-haw!

We had lunch at the Casa Rio restaurant downtown.  It was so lovely to be able enjoy our lunch along the banks of the San Antonio Riverwalk! 

After lunch, we toured the Briscoe Western Art Museum, which was amazing!  On our way back to the car, we saw folks setting up for NIOSA (the "night in old San Antonio festival").

F I E S T A ... is a great experience, especially in San Antonio! 

Fiesta Nueva!

Today we attended the Fiesta Nueva worship service at St. John's Lutheran Church in downtown San Antonio... complete with mariachi band!  Afterwards, the church had a silent auction in their fellowship hall and a church festival (a FIESTA!) outside.. in their parking lot.  Viva, God!!!

It's Fiesta time in San Antonio!

The anticipation that is Fiesta in San Antonio is over!  Fiesta 2013 began today and we're hoping to take in a few of the events between now and the 28th.

DoD Casualty List for April 11 - 17

Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery - Pennsylvania

The Department of Defense announced on April 15th the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

They died April 9, in Pachir Wa Agam District, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan. They were assigned to the1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 104th Aviation Regiment, 28th Combat Aviation Brigade, 28th Infantry Division, Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa.

Killed were: Chief Warrant Officer Matthew P. Ruffner, 34, of Tafford, Pa., and Chief Warrant Officer Jarett M. Yoder, 26, of Mohnton, Pa.

Restful Saturday

We've had a quiet day on Toscana Isle as can be seen by our Wesley hanging out in his basket. 

DOD Casualty Report for April 3-11

Bay Pines National Cemetery - St. Petersburg, FL

Capt. James Michael Steel, 29, of Tampa, Fla., died April 3 in the crash of an F-16 near Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.

Killed on April 6th were Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Ward, 24, of Oak Ridge, Tenn., Spc. Wilbel A. Robles-Santa, 25, of Juncos, Puerto Rico, and Spc. Delfin M. Santos Jr., 24, of San Jose, Calif. in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit in Zabul, Afghanistan with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device.   

They were assigned to the 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Korean War MIA identified

Arlington National Cemetery

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that a serviceman, who was unaccounted-for from the Korean War, has been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Army Lt. Col. Don C. Faith Jr. of Washington, Ind., will be buried April 17, in Arlington National Cemetery. Faith was a veteran of World War II and went on to serve in the Korean War. In late 1950, Faith’s 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, which was attached to the 31st Regimental Combat Team (RCT), was advancing along the eastern side of the Chosin Reservoir, in North Korea. From Nov. 27 to Dec. 1, 1950, the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces (CPVF) encircled and attempted to overrun the U.S. position. During this series of attacks, Faith’s commander went missing, and Faith assumed command of the 31st RCT. As the battle continued, the 31st RCT, which came to be known as “Task Force Faith,” was forced to withdraw south along Route 5 to a more defensible position. During the withdrawal, Faith continuously rallied his troops, and personally led an assault on a CPVF position.

Records compiled after the battle of the Chosin Reservoir, to include eyewitness reports from survivors of the battle, indicated that Faith was seriously injured by shrapnel on Dec. 1, 1950, and subsequently died from those injuries on Dec. 2, 1950. His body was not recovered by U.S. forces at that time. Faith was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor­­ – the United States’ highest military honor – for personal acts of exceptional valor during the battle.

In 2004, a joint U.S. and Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea (D.P.R.K) team surveyed the area where Faith was last seen. His remains were located and returned to the U.S. for identification.

Today, more than 7,900 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War.

"Bits and Bobs" on a Sunday

Wesley hangs out on a Sunday afternoon

Frilly scarves made by Belinda's mother



Birthday present for Charles from his brother, Dale

It has been a delightful day here in San Antonio!  After worship at St. Matthew's UMC we stopped by Formosa Garden for a terrific meal - we'd been there once before and really enjoyed what we had!!

When we came back home we were greeted by Wesley who was more than happy to be allowed to explore a bit outdoors.  When he was brought back inside he showed how limber he is by trying to slither out of Belinda's arms.  Quite the escape artist is our Wesley!

Belinda returned to San Antonio yesterday from a visit with her mother in San Angelo.  She brought back some of the frilly scarves her mother makes.  Such a riot of color!

Charles was the happy recipient of a belated birthday present from his brother, Dale.  Charles is looking forward to having his buttons back on display when they move next.  The current tally for his collection is 6,955!

Second Sunday of Easter

April is well and truly underway and this morning we ventured out and explored a new church [for us], St. Matthew's UMC.  We found this to be a very welcoming and inviting congregation and it was wonderful to be with them today.

A particular blessing was from the choir [who sang several times during the service] which sang a haunting song based on this poem . It was written during WW2, on the wall of a cellar, by a young Jewish woman in the Cologne  [Germany] concentration camp:

"I believe in the sun
even when it is not shining
And I believe in love,
even when there's no one there.

And I believe in God,
even when he is silent.
I believe through any trial,
there is always a way
.
But sometimes in this suffering
and hopeless despair
My heart cries for shelter,
to know someone's there.

But a voice rises within me, saying hold on
my child, I'll give you strength,
I'll give you hope.
Just stay a little while.

I believe in the sun
even when it is not shining
And I believe in love
even when there's no one there

But I believe in God
even when he is silent
I believe through any trial
there is always a way.

May there someday be sunshine
May there someday be happiness
May there someday be love
May there someday be peace...."

- Unknown

DoD Casualty List for March 28 - April 3

Beaufort [South Carolina] National Cemetery

Chief Warrant Officer Curtis S. Reagan, 43, of Summerville, S.C., died March 29 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, from a non-combat related illness.   He was assigned to the 603rd Aviation Support Battalion, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.

Taize` Service

It has been a chilly, rainy day here in San Antonio!  Charles braved the San Antonio traffic and drove across town to Alamo Heights UMC to attend their monthly Taize` service.  This service offers a quiet, reflective setting and music to lift up the soul.  What a blessing it was tonight!