Fully retired. Keeping busy with writing, hiking, backpacking, rock and mountain climbing, mountain biking, snowshoeing, and alpine and backcountry skiing.
Questions That People Have Asked:
Why is my Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Badge placed below my jump wings in my retirement photo taken in November 1998? From the period when the EOD Badges were first authorized for wear in 1956 until 2005, the EOD Badges were placed in Special Skill Group 5. AR 670-1, dated 3 February 2005, now lists the EOD Badges in Special Skill Group 3, above the Parachutist Badge and the HALO Badge in Special Skills Group 4. This is where it should have been all along.
How was I awarded the Combat Infantry Badge (CIB) for Operation URGENT FURY when I was EOD (at that time MOS 55D). Although my primary MOS was 55D, I was in an Infantry duty MOS 11B billet. Today, the enlisted Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) code for EOD is 89D. That change took place on 1 January 2005.
When and why did I transfer from EOD to Infantry MOS? As soon as I was promoted to Master Sergeant in the EOD MOS, I changed my MOS to Infantry on 11 July 1988 (19 years in EOD). I felt because of my duty assignments and ten years in 1st SFOD-D, I would be more competitive for Sergeant Major in the Infantry field. My duties in 1st SFOD-D and later JSOC were not affected by the change. This decision proved correct.
For my combat patch, Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (SSI) that I wore on my right shoulder, I chose the United States Army, Vietnam (USARV) patch.
As for headgear, I wore a green beret with a U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) flash. The USASOC Distinguished Unit Insignia (DUI) is centered on the flash. Although I went through the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta (Airborne) Assessment and Selection Course and the complete Operator Training course, I was not Special Forces qualified, but I was airborne qualified.
The badge that I am wearing above my right breast pocket of my jacket is the Austrian (Österreich) Police Gendarmerie High Alpinists “Polizei Gendarmerie Hochalpinist” Badge (Abzeichen). I and five others from Delta trained with the Austrian GEK (Gendarmerieeinsatzkommando) Cobra on their ski mountaineering training course from 12 to 28 May 1984. We climbed and skied in the Glockner Group in the Austrian high (Hohe) Tauern. In 2002, GEK's name was changed to EKO (Einsatzkommando). The badge was presented by the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior on 28 May 1984. Under the provisions of Chapter 7, AR 672-5-1, and Public Law 95-105, Foreign Relations Authorization Act, I was authorized to accept and wear the badge. AR 670-1 permits the permanent wearing of one foreign badge. The order authorizing me to wear the badge is a DAPC-PDA order dated 12 March 1987.
My Army dress uniform is now on display at the U.S. Army Ordnance Training Support Facility (OTSF) at Fort Gregg-Adams (formerly Fort Lee), Virginia.
The photos on the internet that identify me as being on General H. Norman Schwarzhopf, Jr., security detail during Operation DESERT STORM is not me. It is William F. "Bill" Cronin III, a friend and co-worker in Delta. I did not do any personal security during my time in Delta. I did conduct security/survivability assessments within the United States and world-wide during my time in Delta. My assignment during Operation DESERT STORM was the assault on Taji #2, the two-story cut-and-cover Iraqi Command and Control (C2) facility located approximately 15 nautical miles northwest of Baghdad. The Air Force had dropped 60 2,000-pound BLU-109/B on it without damaging it. We were to breach it and destroy it in a ground attack. On the last day of the war, it was partially taken out by the newly developed 4,700-pound GBU-28/B. During Operation DESERT STORM I was located in Ar'ar, Saudi Arabia.
My interests are spelunking, rock climbing, and mountaineering. During my time on active-duty I was a professional member of the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), American Alpine Club (AAC), and the National Speleological Society (NSS). I was also nationally registered as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). I first learned to rock climb in 1967, when I attended Exum Mountaineering School at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.
Other Comments:
Recipient of The Order of 1st SFOD-D - Delta Colors, Serial Number 123, on 19 October 1995, for singularly exemplary contributions to 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta (Airborne). Graduate of Operator Training Course -1 (OTC-1). In Delta, I served as an Operator, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician, Master Breacher, Climbing Instructor, and Mountain Guide. Assistant Historian for the National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Association (NATEODA). Assist the EOD Warrior Foundation with historical EOD research. Received the 2013 Art Macksey Citizenship Award presented by the Vietnam EOD Veterans Association. Inducted into the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps Hall of Fame, Class of 2018.
Family:
Married to Donna L. Ikenberry, a freelance photojournalist. We have two daughters, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. The oldest two grandchildren had served in the U.S. Navy. We currently have one grandson in the U.S. Army. On 1 June 2018, Donna was awarded the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps "Keeper of the Flame" award.
Interviews: I have given several podcast interviews; BBC Radio 4, Hazard Ground, SOFREP Radio, The After Action Review,The Team House, Shaping Opinion, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Warrior Foundation (EODWF), American Warrior Radio, Late Night History, The Blue Falcon Broadcast, The Reconnaissance Cast, D.B. Cooper Vortex, and Mother of Tanks.
Ten years after Operation EAGLE CLAW, the Iran Hostage Rescue Mission was declassified. The mission took place from 24-25 April 1980. From 13 October 1992 to 29 April 1993, I was part of USSOCOM Special Operations Forces Strategic Potential briefings under General Carl Stiner. Twenty some special operations personnel and I went around the country giving this presentation to the civilian populace. John T. Carney, Jr., USAF George C. Ferkes, USAF and I gave the Iran Hostage Rescue Mission portion of the presentation.
I gave an audio BBC Radio4 interview on Operation EAGLE CLAW. In the photo on the website we are debarking from a C-141 at Wadi Kena, Egypt following the rescue attempt. I am the person in the photo on the far right.
I gave two audio podcast interviews for Hazard Ground. Hazard Ground is a free military oral history website on iTunes. Service members from across the military share their accounts of combat and survival. The program is hosted by sports talk radio host and Army veteran, Mark Zinno and Producer Matthew Pascarella. This podcast brings inspirational stories of service and resiliency from those who have fought on and off the battlefield.
The main subject I was asked to talk about on 26 February 2018 was Operation EAGLE CLAW, the 1980, Iran hostage rescue attempt and Operation URGENT FURY, the 1983 invasion of Grenada. This interview was Special Operations oriented. During this interview I discussed the mission to rescue 53 American hostages and the tragic accident at Desert One where eight members of the rescue force were killed. For Grenada, I discussed the air assault on Richmond Hill Prison to rescue the political prisoners held there. The mission resulted in one aircrew member being killed, seven were wounded, and our assault force suffered 17 wounded.
My next interview was on 9 July 2018 and was more EOD oriented. In this interview I will discuss the May 1970 capture and destruction of the 327-ton weapons and ammunition cache in Cambodia during the Vietnam War, known as "Rock Island East. The capture of the cache resulted in seven American deaths and 20 wounded, and before that was over three more killed. I also talk about the Secret Service support that resulted in the death of my teammate SGM Ken Foster in 1976, and the 1996 Khobar Towers, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia truck bombing where 19 Air Force personnel were killed, 488 casualties (109 seriously wounded). I was the explosive investigator for the Department of Defense and part of the Downing Assessment Force, plus more. I also talked about my support to the FBI during the 1987 Atlanta prison riots, Operation POCKET PLANNER.
Note: If you don't have iTunes loaded on your computer or device, you can download the free iTune program from the above site. The iTunes program is 248 MB and free. Hazard Ground audio podcasts are free.
Their website: Hazard Ground Podcast Series - Apple Podcasts
I gave two audio podcast interviews for SOFREP Radio with Jack Murphy. The links below will connect you to iTunes Store.
Their website: Connecting to the iTunes Store.
I gave a video podcast interview for The Team House hosted by Jack Murphy and Dave Parke. The Team House is a weekly stream featuring interviews with military veterans and other experts in their field. The links below will connect you to the interview.
Their website: (4) The Team House - YouTube
8. The Team House video podcast interview #1, Episode #40, Delta Force Plank Owner, 1 May 2020, 2 hours and 19 minutes. This one has over 248,000 views:
My interview: Delta Force Plank Owner SGM Mike Vining, Ep. 40
9. Podcast #14, Behind the Warrior – Historian, EOD Veteran and World Traveler, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Warrior Foundation (EODWF). Interviewed by Sherri Beck and Mike Mack, website: PODCAST|EOD Warrior Foundation
16. The Reconnaissance Cast - Live interviewed by Cecil “Bud” Gibson on a little bit about everything. I tried to cover topics in my career that I have not talked about in the previous interviews.
17. The Cooper Vortex – Episode 75 - Interview with Darren Schaefer on my opinion of the D.B. “Dan” Cooper bomb and my opinion on his jumping out of the B-727 aircraft in flight.
19. Co-interview with Brian Castner (Air Force EOD Veteran and book author) with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Warrior Foundation (EODWF). Interviewed by Maria Schabla, website: https://eodwarriorfoundation.org/behind-the-warrior-podcast/
22. YouTube Short - American Military Network: 1 January 2025. How did your uncle become one of the baddest men in Delta Force? Delta Force legend Mike Vining took on some of the most daring missions in military history, showcasing fearless resolve in rescues, riot control, and high-stakes combat deep behind enemy lines. Length: 50 seconds. Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/z5g-bnGAqrM?si=mlyJhifHB6mv5GyO
Description Operation Eagle Claw (or Operation Evening Light or Operation Rice Bowl) was a United States Armed Forces operation ordered by US President Jimmy Carter to attempt to end the Iran hostage crisis by rescuing 52 embassy staff held captive at the Embassy of the United States, Tehran on 24 April 1980. Its failure, and the humiliating public debacle that ensued, damaged US prestige worldwide. Carter himself blamed his loss in the 1980 US presidential election mainly on his failure to win the release of U.S. hostages held captive in Iran.
The operation encountered many obstacles and was eventually aborted. Eight helicopters were sent to the first staging area, Desert One, but only five arrived in operational condition. One encountered hydraulic problems, another got caught in a cloud of very fine sand, and the last one showed signs of a cracked rotor blade. During planning it was decided that the mission would be aborted if fewer than six helicopters remained, despite only four being absolutely necessary. In a move that is still discussed in military circles, the field commanders advised mission abort, which President Carter accepted and confirmed.
As the U.S. force prepared to leave, one of the helicopters crashed into a transport aircraft which contained both servicemen and jet fuel. The resulting fire destroyed both aircraft and killed eight servicemen. Operation Eagle Claw was one of Delta Force's first missions.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
January / 1980
To Month/Year
December / 1980
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
People You Remember Member of the Rescue Force
JTF Helicopter Detachment
(Alphabetically by Service)
U.S. Air Force
Russell E. Rakip
U.S. Navy
Terry Allen
Rodney Davis
John Diascuk
Robert Mingo
James Scurria
Stanley E. Thomas
U.S. Marine Corps
Dean Beach
Richard Beaucamp
Daniel Bird
William Buchanan
Jeffrey Coffin
Larry Cook
Walt Dehoust
David Doroski
James Fiori
Joseph Harold
John D. Harvey*
Thomas Higley
William Hoff
George N. Holmes, Jr.*
David Husman
Dewey L. Johnson*
Dominick Klasek
Henry Karch
Dwayne Lewis
Charles Lightle
James Linderman
K.D. Logue
B.J. McGuire
Ronald Mueller
Rance Neymeyer
Barney Oldfield
Leslie Petty
James Schaefer
James Scurria
Edward Seiffert
John Sigman
Larry Sosa
Phillip Strickland
L.C. Walt
USMC Attaches:
Mission Coordinator
Colonel Charles Pitman
Intelligence Officer
Major Robert Mattingly
Other Members of JTF 1-79
By Service & Rank
U.S. Marine Corps
Lt. Colonel Robert Neff
Major James G. Magee
U.S. Navy
Captain John A. Butterfield
Commander Maynard R. Weyers
Chief Yeoman William A. Collins
U.S. Army
Major General James B. Vaught
Colonels:
Bernard Balaban
James S. Barkett
Charles A. Beckwith
William R. Foley
Jerry M. King
Stanley Olchovik
John Sperandio
Joe N. Thompson
Lt. Colonels:
Roger W. Ahrens
Carmelito Arkangel, Jr.
Peter F. Dieck
George Hammond
Jesse L. Johnson
Jerry A. Matthiesen
Keith O. Nightingale
James Olstead
Charles Phillips
Richard W. Potter, Jr.
James M. Salander
Carlton G. Savory
Hubert S. Shaw
Joseph Thompson
Sherman H. Williford
Majors:
Herman Adler
Nathan J. Bender
Marshall J. Bowen
William G. Boykin
Lewis H. Burruss, Jr.
Donald Cagle
Norman Custer
Darrell G. Elmore
Logan D. Fitch
Richard B. Friedel
Elliott Klain
Wayne E. Long
Richard Meadows
William C. Ohl
James Q. Roberts
Peter J. Schoomaker
Robert Slay
Edwin K. Smith III
Peter Thompson
Tyrone T. Tisdale
Jorge L. Torres-Cartagena
Captains:
Timothy J. Casey
William H. Deane
William P. Gowdy
David L. Grange
James Iagulli
Wade Y. Ishimoto
James f. Knight
Johnie McClellon
William Moran
James H. Schwitters
Robert Toomy
Steven J. Wright
1st Lieutenants:
Thomas Milam
John Provost
Wayne Richardson
Tommy T. Wall
Warrant Officers:
Michael Bryda
Harry J. Byard
Philip D. Clarkson
John C. Lamonica
Paul A. Zeisman
Charles R. Donau
Michael J. Hollingsed
Larry Sykes
John W. Stanley, Jr.
Russell R. Vona II
William L. Welsch
Sergeants Majors:
David Cheney
Forrest K. Foreman
William R. Grimes
Ratchford P. Haynes
Jack G. Joplin
Angel Macias
Jan Schalavin
Walter L. Shumate
Master Sergeants:
Andy M. Almueti
Robert L. Bolton III
Richard A. Bridge
Angel C. Candelaria
John M. Clemmens, Jr.
Ronald C. Czarnecki
Roger L. George
Rodney L. Headman
Paul A. Lawrence
John R. Martin
Gary M. Moston
Alan Ravitz
Leon E. Sharon
Donald G. Simmons
Kerby A. Smith
Eugene Spencer
Norman C. Taitano
Michael P. Waite
Edward H. Westfall, Jr.
Dennis E. Wolfe
Sergeants First Class:
Herman L. Adams, Jr.
Deciderio Alvarez
Donald L. Briere
Kent H. Brown, Jr.
Marshall L. Brown
Edward U. Bugarin
Jerry L. Burney
Guy L. Chapman
Junior L. Chewey
Bradley Cooper
Thomas B. Corbett
Norman F. Crawford
William F. Cronin III
Durwin D. Dengerud
Donald M. Feeney, Jr.
George M. Flanagan
Gerald Fontana
Lawrence N. Freedman
Mark S. Gentry
Terry L. Hall
Eric L. Haney
Phillip L. Hanson
Daniel F. Hobson
Randall A. Hoeffer
Steven T. Hoffman
Patrick R. Hurley
Frank J. James
Killis W. Jeter III
John w. Jones
James L. Knotts
Billy Krieger
Clemons E. Lemke
Robert D. Little
Danny L. Mathers
Santos A. Matos, Jr.
John C. McEwan
Frank O. McKenna
James A. Miller
John P. Mims
Earl J. Moniz
Cecil W. Morgan
Billie D. Morton
Steven Murphy
Glen M. Nickel
John G. Potter
Eulis A. Presley
Keith W. Purdue
Donald E. Purdy
Harrison Reves
David C. Rigo
James D. Roberts
Rodolfo D. Rodriquez
Donald J. Shelton
James V. Shelton
Kenneth W. Spivey
Raymond E. Suggs
Joseph J. Sumakeris
Gerald R. Troller
Bruno Urbaniak
Rolland E. Vincent, Jr.
Arthur L. Waldo
Melvin L. Wick
William J. Wilderman
Robert R. Wilson
John Yancey
William L. Zumwalt
Staff Sergeants:
Christopher W. Abel
Irvin J. Banta
Roger D. Berryhill
Randall A. Bullock
Donald W. Chrisman
Joesph Cook
Iain T.R. Crawford
Derek A. Delaihoussaye
William Donovan
Francis W. Fish II
William C. France III
Gregory Gainey
Alfred L. Gandee
William Guest
Kenneth R. Holt
Reginald H. Honaker
Barry T. Hotle
Jeffrey L. Huber
Bernhard W. Kaita
Michael A. Kalua
Robert Kuenstle
Thomas B. Lambert
Charles Laws
Frrederick J. Lewis
David R. Littlejohn
Azzam Lostan
Michael T. Moore
Thomas L. Mushrim
James P. O’Callaghan
James R. Owens
Douglas G. Pechtel
Manuel R. Pelaiz
John D. Pitts
Jack Rogers
Glen A. Staples, Jr.
Larry A. Steele
Joseph Thompson
Peter Vanborkulo, Jr.
Mike R. Vining
Donald F. Vlasko, Jr.
Carlos C. Westling
Sergeants:
Franklin Ashe
Mark Baillaigeon
Francis Bowman
Richard Burrows
Selmer Hyde
Roy Kampmeir
James Kinny
Michael T. “Mike” McGirr
Daniel Muro
Ruban A. Nieves-Nieves
Michael Noyes
Wilson Nunez
Stewart K. O’Neil
Juan M. Perez, Jr.
Gene Peters
James Phillips
Donald J. Pirtle
Joseph Ripepi
David Sisk
Blasé W. Smith
Larry Smith
Jeffery Swyenburg
Helal S. Syouf
Michael Tietjen
Mannifred Yates
Corporals/Spec Fours:
Roger Beck
David Berkan
Roger Chapman
Arvin J. Collicot
Frank DeRienzo
Stanley C. Evans
Mark Fletcher
Daniel French
Joseph Friedman
Edwin Gilbert
Marty Godding
Steven Hogue
Roy Horsley
John Hudachek
Wesley W. Kaylor
Richard Lamb
David Lewis
Peter Love
Kenneth Martin
Kurt L. Kassey
Henry Navarro
Gary Noble
Joseph Principe
Charles Ray
Raymond Rhash
Hector Rodrigues
Robert Rubio, Jr.
Michael Sampson
Kurt Schneider
Eric Scott
Gordon Shields
Donald Smith
James Stewart
Mark Taylor
James Tomazin
Horace Turner
Bryan K. Weeks
Gordon Young
Privates First Class:
Arnett Brantley
Kenneth Clement
James Dee
Dennis Dodson
Charles Fooks
Joseph La Flex
Slade McCalip
Keith Marrow
Michael Pflaum
Bobby Reed
Fritz Resil
James Sparks
Makie Warf
William White
Privates:
Michael Hitchcock
Kerry Kolhof
Warren Long
James Miller
Bret Parker
Timothy Spayd
DA Civilians:
Ronald C. Waananen
U.S, Air Force
Major Genral Philip C. Gast
Colonels:
Richard Keating
James Kyle
Eugene A. Moore
Robert N. Pinard
Thomas J. Wicker
Lt. Colonels:
John P. Bateman
Lawrence D. Bonham
Thomas P. Bradley
Robert L. Brenci
David I. Casperson
William M. Crane
John A. Drohan
John A. Gallagher
John E. Gamble
Bobbie Gene Graham
Roland D. Guidry
Lannie W. Hall
Glaude R. Horton
Ronald L. Jones
Robert Lawrence
Rod Lenahan
James A. Livesey
Thomas L. McCarron
Ronald Michaels
Kenneth D. Oliver
William T. Postles
Lester C. Smith
Raymond Turczynski, Jr.
Flurin D. White
John H. Wilson
Majors:
Frank W. Anderson
John R. Anderson
Alva E. Bagby III
George R. Barratt
David J. Blum
Alan H. Brown
Donald Buchanan
Clyde Butler II
Darin T. Cairns
John T. Carney, Jr.
Terence L. Casteel
M. Couvillon
Russel B.G. Darden
William F. Deegan, Jr.
William H. Diggins
James D. Duke
Clifford Gilbert
John E. Hawkins
Less Hess
Carl S. Houston
William K. Horne
Terance L. Jahnke
Harry Johnson
James M. Kirk
John M. Logan
Michael D. Overstreet
John Ozolins
Juan Pena, Jr.
Fredrick L. Pumroy
James N. Roberts
Paul W. Rumple
Arthur W. Schwall, Jr.
John Stock
William R. Terry
John W. Thomas
Stephen L. Toles
George R. Toth
Douglas L. Ulery
Gerald J. Uttaro
Douglas R. Waali
John V.O. Weaver, Jr.
Frank Wells
Wesley T. Werling
Captains:
Richard L. Bakke*
James Bennes II
Thomas M. Beres
Dennis R. Bishop
Jeffrey A. Blohm
Paul R. Bolduc
Joseph A. Brennan
Stephen Burke
Thomas W. Butler
Robert H. Bysewski
Clayton J. Chaplvian, Jr.
Joseph J. Contigquqlia
Jerome F. Conway
Michael A. Cummings
Judson D. Daley
David L. Davenport
James Dickensheets
Jack R. Dickinson
John E. Downey, Jr.
Leslie R. Drake
Michael A. Driver
Michael A. Dungan
Bobby F. Earle
Donald S. Ellis
Steven D. Elise
George C. Ferkes
Michael R. Filler
Stephen A. Fleming
Samuel Galloway
Steven E. Garbe
Terry Godby
M. J. Hamilton
Michael L. Happe
Jeffery B. Harrison
Raymond P. Hicks
Robert L. Honaker
John S. Jaczinski III
Douglas A. Johnson
Martin P. Jubelt
John P. Kegel
James D. Kelly
James L. Langenhan
Stephen D. Lavender
James D. Lawrence
Clark P. Lee
Kevin H. Leeman
Ellen K. Lewis
Harold L. Lewis, Jr.*
Robert M. Lewis
Charles R. Lovett
William Lucyshyn
Robert T. Luginbuhl, Jr.
J.J. McBride
Michael McClellan
Lyn D. McIntosh*
Charles T. McMillan II*
John R. Michael
Robert L. Miller
John A. Nimmo
Basil S. Norris, Jr.
Bennis E. Novy
Lawrence J. O’Keefe
William E. Osborne
John G. Pearson
Gregory S. Peppers
Joseph D. Perkumas
Kenneth H. Poole
Timothy C. Prater
James R. Pugh III
Russel E. Rakip, Jr.
Michael D. Remington
Dean E. Rice
William P. Robb
Richard A. Robbins
Neal T. Robinson
James D. Rorabaugh
William W. Ross
William E. Saier
Mark R. Sanderson
Michael D. Scearse
Robert G. Schultz
John P. Sherkus
Donald C. Siegel
Brian A. Sliwa
John M. Smilek
Harold L. Solomon
Maurice F. Sonner II
Edward C. Springler
Larry M. Stephens
Steven J. Srubbe
Michael K. Sumida
Ronald L. Tanner
Russell E. Tharp
Jerry L. Thigpen
Wayne L. Thom
John G. Townsend
Lester P. Tucker
David L. Valenta
Xavier G. Villarreal
Richard G. Viray
Warren I. Weaver
Myron E. Williams
Charles Williamson
John C. Witzel
Ray A. Yagher
Karl B. Young
Herman Youngblood
Russ Ziegenhorn
Davis R. Ziegler
1st Lieutenants:
Clyde C. Ayer
Joseph M. Drosezko
Charles D. Ford
Vincent J. Guida
Jeffery B. Harrison
Robert W. Hudson
Armas J. Jaskey
Robert J. Mongillo
Dennis E. Novy
Timothy C. Prater
Lin A. Riley
Berton B. Rund
Ronald C. Sharpe
Gerald R. Smith
Stephen P. Vancil
Mark Widermuth
Michael N. Wilson
Ronald D. Yaggi
2nd Lieutenants:
Allen A. Moushon
Michael E. Strang
Chief Master Sergeants:
Fred O. Harris
Buie E. Kindle
Senior Master Sergeants:
Richard G. Davis
Sherman E. Eller
Stephen L. Foster
John M. Gerkey
Olive Hodgson
Arthur W. Humphrey
Wayne Keeserling
Clawson L. Messer
Kenneth D. Patterson
Albert J. Turcotte
Atwell L. Wiley
Master Sergeants:
Frederick R. Allen
Roberto L. Almanzer
Gerald A. Appleby
Freddie L. Banks
William D. Beavers
Don Boudreaux
Gray E. Brandmeier
Michael R. Bryan
Roger L. Capps
Robert A. Chitwood
Reuben S. Cole
Thomas Daigenaut
Anthony G. Denoi
Ray C. Doyle
O.B. Duncan
James W. Garrett
Clyde C. Gowdy
George W. Hawkins, Jr.
Johnas Jackson
Fred E. Jenkins
John F. Katakik, Jr.
Edward F. Kirby
Michael I. Lampe
William H. Larsen
Harold D. Maddux
Ronald McGill
H.L. Michaud, Jr.
John W. Mink
R.T Plain, Jr.
Francis J. Puskas
Dennis C. Ray
Daniel G. Russel
John Schugman
Joseph G. Sheldon
Bobbie K. Sikes
Francis J. Skorupski
Bruce B. Williamson
Garnett E. Wilson, Jr.
Technical Sergeants:
Arthur F. Allen
Warren S. Allen
Lewis G. Aokin
Rodney Arviso
Kenneth L. Bancroft
Raphael M. Barthlett
Fred E. Beach
T.A. Boknevitz
Stephen R. Booe
Gary L. Boughton
Jack G. Bracken, Jr.
Mitchell Brown
James Charvat
James D. Chesser
Eurial Davis, Jr.
Richard A. Diehl
Ben R. Ferrell
Donald H. Folley, Jr.
William R. Gingrich
Manuel L. Gonzalez
Denny M Grisham
Kenneth F. Haman
James Hamilton
Michael L. Hassler
Barry P. Holloman
J.J. Hollyfield
M. Hosenbackez
Charles W. Hughes, Jr.
Ronnie M. Janes
William R. Jerome
Thomas Juniper
Arthur King
John A. Koren
James A. Kowalik
William A. Lippens
James H. Lutterman
Michael R. Marbry
Mark S. Martin
John W. Mattison
Joel C. Mayo*
Rex D. Mays
George S. Miller
Dwight A. Newberry
Robert W. Nichols
Dennis C. Ray
Robert L. Roeder
Jerry L. Schutee
Stephen Smith, Jr.
Edward B. Strange
Jose L. Torres
Robert B. Underwood. Jr.
Theodore C. Vandemark
Thomas A. Wacht
Frederick Welty
James W. West
Barry E. Wilkins
Dean F. Winters
Walter E. Wood
Staff Sergeants:
Jerry L. Anderson
Nasamichi Arija
Larry J. Beattie
Jerry Beeman
Joseph J. Byers III
Larry A. Bloomfield
Leonard Boeninghaus
Guy W. Bogisich
Virgil C. Bramer
Larry L. Bupp
Larry B. Burrus
Ronald Calhoun, Jr.
James L. Chamess
Barry W. Clain, Jr.
Dannie Clark
Kenneth W. Clark
Raymond L. Coons
S.G. Corbett
William D. Cowan
Freddy Adamos Cruz
William E. Daughtery, Jr.
Chester G. Davis
Teddie C. Davis
James B Devine IV
Salvador Diaz
Roy S. Duncan
John T. Felton
Charles A. Fleming
Harold W. Fowle
David A. Fredricksen
William R. Galt
James A. Graczyk
Clint A. Grant
James K. Haase
James C. Hall
D.L. Harrison
Dana B. Hensley
Roland C. Hickman
Jackie D. Holly
James A. Holmes
Andrew J. Huff
Kenneth R. Ingram
Wilbert L. Jacobs
Ray A. Jimenez
James B. Joy
James A. Justice
Ricky E. Kahler
Robert J. Kane
William M. King
Frederick Kramer
James M. Labit
Vincent Anthony Latona, Sr.
William H. Lawrence
William McCoy
Kenneth F. McKee
Leverious D. Maston, Jr.
William f. Milburn
Horace T. Mize
Thomas L. Mock
William Necker, Jr.
Robert S. Page
Earl Parchment
C. Perez-Murales
Randall Permenter
Bruce L. Pettry
James H. Price
Joseph D. Reid
George Reschetinkow
Bernard Roessling
Burton C. Rought, Jr.
Richard T. Sanchez
Clyde S. Silva
Charles D. Stevens
Andrew J. Stigar
William A. Tafoya
Billy J. Tate, Jr.
Frederick Taylor
Edward L. Teaford
Ronald J. Thomas
Dale R. Town
Ray Treadwell, Jr.
Thomas R. Vadnais
Luis E. Valenzuela
James B. Varnadore
Miguel Vecchione
Richard W. West
Daniel O. Whalen
David N. Williams
Ernest W. Wilson
Wesley B. Witherspoon
Bradley M. Wolf
Rex V. Wollmann
Ronald L. Zummer
Senior Airmen:
Amin Abirached
David C. Alwerdt
Steve P. Arthur
Keith G. Barton
Roy L. Bigham
Keith A. Blanks
Milton R. Bowman
Mark A. Busha
Dennis R. Bradshaw
Richard W. Bridger
John Bryant
Gary H. Cardenas
Dana A. Carter
Bruce A. Chiras
Joseph J. Clancy, Jr.
John W. Clark
E. J. Cooney, Jr.
Dewy D. Dahl
George L. Davis
Ronald J. Dawley
Joseph Disalvo, Jr.
Michael G. Duffie
Arthur L. Evans
William C. Fullan
Joseph W. Finnerty
Rodney B. Forest
Randy E. Garrett
Johnny George
Gary L. Green
Paul Greene
M.T. Grossman
Eugene R. Hagge
Clifford M. Hare
Joseph M. Harrington
Stephen E. Hartman
Martin Hayes
Robert D. Henrie
John R. Heard
Bradley A. Herdman
Louis Hernandez, Jr.
Dewight L. Herndon
Geogory L. Hooper
Michael L. Hosler
Lawrence Houghton
Jeffrey D. Howland
Toy L. Jones, Jr.
James D. Judkins
Donald L. Kark
Robert A. Lindsey
James W. McClain, Jr.
James McCluskey
Steven A. McCunney
Harry A. McDaniel
Timothy Masenburg
James R. Massey
David L. Mayes
David Metherell
Daniel Meyers
Laurence D. Miller
Charles E. Moore
Bruce W. Nicholson
Daniel P. Parabis
Larry E. Poston
Anthony R. Price
Kevin Randlett
Thomas H. Reeder
Alfred A. Romero
Jessie J. Rowe III
John R. Sandrow, Jr.
Jerome H. Schultz
Matthew J. Shankle
Thomas Shaver
Michael A. Skelton
Chester Slavings
Derral Skinner
Donald K. Smith
Henry F. Smith
Thomas G. Smith
Dewayne P. Snodderly
Edward I. Spence
Paul E. Sulzberger
Martin E. Thompson
Tommy Thompson
Charles E. Tindall
Thomas R, Vaisvilas
J.T. Wallingford
Lawrence G. Walsh
William B. Walter
Joel Williamson
Daniel B. Wright
Michael J. Ziarniak
Airmen First Class:
Glenn Barndollar
David C. Bateman
Ishael Blas
Michael J. Bradley
Thomas G. Brosius
David R. Brown
James D. Caplinger
Carlos Cardenas
Jonathon Carlisle
Jerald Chiarell
Nikki A. Cornell
David S. Crawford
John R. Crimmins
Kevin F. Daniel
Thomas K. Davis
Scott A. Delong
Gary R. Denis
Matt G. Doane
Robert A. Dryer
Daniel E. Durington
D.S. Eggum
Alan T. Evans
Mark L. Feuser
Anthony M Forster
Jerry Frank
Jerry Goshia
Lewis E. Gray
William Greffrath
Mark Grondin
Fredrickl R. Hassel
Terry L. Henry
Gray D Holt
Eric J. Hooten
Lawrence J. Houghton
John P. House
Douglas A. Johnson
Juan R. Johnson
David Kerstetter
Ricky L. King
Mitchell D. Larson
Dennis L. Lowther
Jerry E. McKee
Stephen L. Maloney
James L. Marine
Robert A. Martin
John A. Melanson
Randy L. Miller
Michael Mondragun
Rodney J. Mudge
Douglas J. Neal
Joseph O’Brien
William E. Ohms
Mark Osterhout
Craig E. Peters
Perry L.J. Pogue
Michael D. Price
Alan T. Ramirez
Randall L. Rinehart
Ernest E. Robb, Jr.
Richard R. Roundtree
Kevin D. Rumple
Kevin J. Rutkowski
Robert P. Ryan
Frank V. Sabato, Jr.
C. Sanfilippo
Alex D. Shear
Steven T. Sistrunk
Randall L. Sleggs
William Spera
Anthony V. Suarez
James R. Sutton
D.E. Thompson
Mark D. Tidruw
Willaim V. Tootle
Ricky W. Tracy
Richard M. Veenstra
John Vincent
Mark R. Wadding
Hyram L. Walton
Dale E. Welsh
Douglas S. West
Thomas E. Whitt
Matthew L. Wilhelm
Charles F. Woods, Jr.
David B. Young
Airmen:
William L. Amos
Philip J. Carpenter
Vincent P. Cimatu
Cardell Jones
Romeo M. Laniog
Mark Shimono
Airman Basic:
Christopher Schod
Fred Arooji went in with Major Richard “Dick” Meadow as part of the advance party. Fred was in the Air Force
Memories My team's responsibilities was to conduct a search of the Ambassador's residence for the hostage. As part of B Squadron, we were on the EC-130 bladder tanker when it was hit by the RH-53D helicopter. All of B Squadron members survived, but five Airmen and and three Marines lost their lives in that accident.
People You Remember
I was with B Squadron (White Element) on board the EC-130E Bladder Bird when we were hit by a RH53-D helicopter. Thirty-three members of B Squadron escaped the inferno. Five Air Force and three Marines were killed.
