The remains of Navy Captain Scott Speicher, a pilot who has been missing since being shot down during the 1991 Gulf War, have been positively identified. The Pentagon has released a statement:
The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) has positively identified remains recovered in Iraq as those of Captain Michael Scott Speicher. Captain Speicher was shot down flying a combat mission in an F/A-18 Hornet over west-central Iraq on January 17th, 1991 during Operation Desert Storm.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Captain Speicher’s family for the ultimate sacrifice he made for his country,” said Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy. “I am also extremely grateful to all those who have worked so tirelessly over the last 18 years to bring Captain Speicher home.”
“Our Navy will never give up looking for a shipmate, regardless of how long or how difficult that search may be,” said Admiral Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations. “We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Captain Speicher and his family for the sacrifice they have made for our nation and the example of strength they have set for all of us.”
The statement goes on to recount the details of how Capt. Speicher’s remains were found, and the likelihood that he died on impact. I am so glad that the remains have been identified, and the mystery solved.
Much like the disappearance of Etan Patz, the Speicher case has been weighing on my mind. While every missing person and serviceman is important, some cases take on a special meaning in our consciousness. I’m glad that Capt. Speicher’s family has the certainty of knowing what happened, and of burying him in the U.S.A
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Don’t forget to Honor Mike Spann
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Comments
Rest in peace, sir, and may God watch over your family.
My the Lord Jesus grant peace to the Speicher family.
God bless those who worked to bring Capt. Speicher home. May he rest in peace.
Blue skies, and tailwinds, shipmate….
Welcome home, Captain. Rest in peace.
Welcome home, sweet soldier.
American Power tracked-back with, 'Remains of Missing U.S. Pilot Michael Speicher Found After 18 Years'.
God bless the family and extended family of Michael Speicher.
"Fair Winds;and Following Seas"
"Semper Fi"
Welcome Home.
I will never forget when I first heard his name uttered as missing. I was a petty officer at the Bethesda Naval Hospital watching it all unfold on CNN.
His was one of those names that you could never forget.
Thank God he is home now where he is protected and will be watched over with great care and respect. Of course he was not the first and he would not be the last but he is one of the many that would sacrifice themselves to watch over this great nation and its people regardless of race, creed or color.
May he finally rest in peace and may his family finally receive some closure.
FLY NAVY!!
If you are able,
save them a place
inside of you
and save one backward glance
when you are leaving
for the places they can
no longer go.
Be not ashamed to say
you loved them,
though you may
or may not have always.
Take what they have left
and what they have taught you
with their dying
and keep it with your own.
And in that time
when men decide and feel safe
to call the war insane,
take one moment to embrace
those gentle heroes
you left behind
Very nice Mike (N1095A)
"A man is not Dead;Until he is Forgotten"
"Never Forget"
Thank You. That was a poem written by Major Michael Davis O'Donnell
170TH AVN CO, 52ND AVN BN, 17TH AVN GRP, 1 AVN BDE U.S. Army 13 August 1945 – 07 February 1978
Springfield, Illinois Panel 12W Line 040 On Vietnam Memorial Wall.
I thought it was a fitting tribute for "Scott".
I have been told that all MIA bracelets received before he is buried will be buried with him. The bracelets can be sent to:
Bob Beuhn
Division Chief Military Affairs, Veterans and Disabled Services
Recreation and Community Services Department
City of Jacksonville
City Hall, 117 West Duval Street, Suite 175
Jacksonville, FL 32202