Columbus AFB honors three Airmen

  • Published
  • By Sonic Johnson
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Formations of Base Airmen and community members came together at Columbus Air Force Base for a Memorial Day Retreat May 23 where the base honored the sacrifices made by three fallen Airmen. The names of two pilots, Capt. Jeffery A. Haney and Maj. Joseph M. McCormick were added to the memorial wall that is dedicated to those individuals who have served at Columbus Air Force Base, and Chief Master Sgt. Richard L. Etchberger's name was added to the Medal of Honor recipient wall.

The memorial wall is located at Columbus AFB's Ceremonial Plaza, renamed Richard "Gene" Smith Plaza in honor of the former POW. One side of the memorial wall honors Airmen who have received the Medal of Honor. During the ceremony, the name of Chief Etchberger was added to that distinguished list.

The other wing of the memorial wall honors pilots that have died in military aircraft accidents who earned their wings at Columbus or were instructor pilots assigned here. The tradition of commemorating the names on the wall began when the pilot training mission returned to Columbus AFB in the early 1970s. At the center of the monument is a large replica of pilot wings, a reminder of the wing's primary mission: to produce pilots.

The first name added during the ceremony was Chief Master Sgt. Richard L. Etchberger who was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor on September 21, 2010 upon de-classification of his Vietnam era mission in Laos. Etchberger and his team of technicians were manning a top secret defensive position at Lima Site 85 when the base was overrun by enemy ground forces. Receiving sustained and withering heavy artillery attacks directly upon his unit's position, Etchberger's entire crew lay dead or severely wounded. Despite having received little to no combat training, Etchberger single-handedly held off the enemy with an M-16 while simultaneously directing air strikes into the area and calling for air rescue. Because of his fierce defense and heroic and selfless actions, he was able to deny the enemy access to his position and save the lives of his remaining crew. With the arrival of the rescue helicopter, Etchberger, without hesitation, repeatedly risked his own life, exposing himself to heavy enemy fire in order to place three surviving wounded comrades into rescue slings hanging from the hovering aircraft. With his remaining crew safely aboard, Etchberger finally climbed into an evacuation sling himself, only to be fatally wounded by enemy ground fire as he was being hoisted into the aircraft. Etchberger's bravery and determination in the face of persistent enemy fire and overwhelming odds are in keeping with the highest standards of performance and traditions of military service. Etchberger's gallantry, self-sacrifice, and profound concern for his fellow men and risk of his life, was above and beyond the call of duty.

The first pilot's name added in the ceremony was Major Joseph M. McCormick of Belmont, N.C. who was among the six crew members from the Charlotte Air National Guard Base, N.C. who died when their C-130 Hercules crashed on July 1, 2012. The fatal mishap occurred while employing the Modular Airborne Firefighting System combating wildfires in the Black Hills region of western South Dakota. McCormick was an instructor pilot and chief of training for the 156th Airlift Squadron. He was part of Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 04-13 and received his wings through the 48th Flying Training Squadron. Lt. Col. Stephen Mallett and 15 other crewmembers from Charlotte's 145th Airlift Wing were on hand to participate in the ceremony.
The last pilot's name added in the ceremony was Captain Jeffery A. Haney of Clarklake, Mich. who died while flying the F-22 Raptor on November 16, 2012, when he crashed during a training mission in Alaska. Haney was stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska where he joined the 525th Fighter Squadron. He was part of Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 05-06 and received his wings through the 50th Flying Training Squadron.

The concise ceremony concluded with a formal Retreat, a 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps. The formal retreat ceremony concluded an afternoon of safety focused events for the wing as it begins the Critical Days of Summer.