Killed in the Line of Duty

Last Update: Saturday, June 29, 2024
Hosted by USAF PJ Association

“It is my duty, as a member of the Air Rescue Service,
to save life and to aid the injured.
I will be prepared at all times to perform my assigned
duties quickly and efficiently, placing these duties
before personal desires and comforts.
These things I do that others may live.”

Pararescuemen Killed in Action or in the Line of Duty

Dedicated to those who gave their lives so

"That Others May Live"

              Do not stand at my grave and weep; I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the autumn's rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry.    I am not there.    I did not die.
                                           - Clare Harner 1934

The following is a list of PJ's KIA during the Vietnam War

Location Abbreviations: SVN - South Vietnam, NVN - North Vietnam, LAO - Laos, CAM - Cambodia, THA - Thailand

Names	Rank	Unit	Crew Pos	Aircraft	Date	Location	Misc Info	Wall Panel	Wall Line
Adams, Stephen H.	A1C	33 ARRS	PJ	HU-16	10/18/1966	NVN	Crown Bravo HU-16 hit by artillery after water landing for downed pilot	11E	085
Avery, Allen J	TSgt	37 ARRS	PJ	HH-53	04/06/1972	SVN	Jolly Green 67. Shot down on Bat 21 SAR	02W	130
Berry, Robert L.	SSgt	38 ARRS	PJ		07/23/1966	LAO	Died of Black Water Fever disease contracted while in Laos. Medevaced to CONUS where he died a few weeks later. Because he died in the USA, he is not listed as a Vietnam War casualty.	Died outside of Vietnam and was not counted as a casualty of the war.
Cohen, Harry	TSgt	38 ARRS	PJ	HH-43	07/19/1969	THA	Pedro 70 Helicopter destroyed by exploding bombs during scramble on B-52 crash. 2nd PJ Tommy Miles survived the explosion but was seriously injured.	02E	040
Crow, Raymond J.	Sgt	40 ARRS	PJ	HH-53	03/27/1972	CAM	Jolly Green 61 Helicopter crashed due to unknown cause. Suspected maintenance problem	02W	119
Davis, Luther E.	SSgt	37 ARRS	PJ	HH-3E	05/25/1970	SVN	WIA JG27 shootdown 15/04/70 Died result of these wounds on 25/05/70	10W	096
Davison, David M.	A1C	40 ARRS	PJ	HH-53	12/05/1969	LAO	KIA by AK-47 during the Boxer 22 SAR	15W	027
Dean, Michael F.	SSgt	40 ARRS	PJ	HH-53	06/30/1970	LAO	Jolly Green 54 Helicopter shot down during SAR	09W	103
Jenkins, Paul L.	MSgt	40 ARRS	PJ	HH-53	06/30/1970	LAO	Jolly Green 54 Helicopter shot down during SAR	09W	105
King, Charles D.	A1C	40 ARRS	PJ	HH-3E	12/25/1968	LAO	On JG17 hoist when it was sheared due to battle damage. Shot by Pathet Lao.	36W	076
Locker, James D.	Sgt	37 ARRS	PJ	HH-3E	06/09/1968	SVN	Jolly Green 23 Helicopter shot down on SAR	58W	010
Maysey, Larry W.	Sgt	37 ARRS	PJ	HH-3E	11/09/1967	LAO	Jolly Green 26 Helicopter shot down during SAR	29E	060
Pearson, William R.	Sgt	37 ARRS	PJ	HH-53	04/06/1972	SVN	Jolly Green 67 Shot down on Bat 21 SAR	02W	132
Pitsenbarger, William H.	A1C	38 ARRS	PJ	HH-43	04/11/1966	SVN	Pedro 73 hoisted Bill to ground to assist troops in contact. Shot in ground battle with the Viet Cong.	06E	102
Pleiman, James E.	A1C	33 ARRS	PJ	HU-16	03/14/1966	NVN	Crown Bravo HU-16 hit by artillery after water landing for downed pilot	06E	007
Prose, Thomas D.	A1C	37 ARRS	PJ	HH-53	11/25/1971	SVN	Jolly Green 70 Shot down in South Vietnam while returning from SAR	02W	072
Pruett, William D.	SMSgt	40 ARRS	PJ	HH-53	01/28/1970	NVN	Jolly Green 71 Shot down by MiG in North Vietnam	14W	076
Sutton, William C.	TSgt	40 ARRS	PJ	HH-53	01/28/1970	NVN	Jolly Green 71 Shot down by MiG in North Vietnam	14W	077
Thomas, James R.	TSgt	37 ARRS	PJ	HH-53	11/25/1971	SVN	Jolly Green 70 Shot down in South Vietnam while returning from SAR	02W	072
Wagner, Raymond A.	A1C	40 ARRS	PJ	HH-53	03/27/1972	CAM	Jolly Green 61 Helicopter crashed due to unknown cause. Suspected maintenance problem	02W	120

The following is a list of Pararescuemen who were KIA in the Global War On Terrorism

Name	Rank	Unit	CRO/PJ	Aircraft	Date	Location	Comments
Brown, John W.	TSgt	24 STS	PJ	CH-47	08/06/2011	Afghanistan	Part of QRF responding to Rangers in contact with enemy forces
Cunningham, Jason D.	SRA		PJ	MH-47	03/04/2002	Afghanistan	Shot down during SAR. Survived crash. Was KIA while treating survivors and fighting off enemy troops. Awarded AFC
Duffman, Scott E.	TSgt	24 STS	PJ	MH-47	02/18/2007	Afghanistan	His aircraft was downed while on a SAR
Enis, Carl	SSgt	308 RQS	PJ	HH-60	03/15/2018	Iraq	Operation Inherent Resolve
Flores, Michael P.	TSgt	48 RQS	PJ	HH-60	06/09/2010	Afghanistan	Pedro 66 shot down during SAR
Gentz, Joel C.	Capt	58 RQS	CRO	HH-60	06/09/2010	Afghanistan	Pedro 66 shot down during SAR
Hay, Dennis P					08/29/2005	Iraq	Former PJ transferred to Army to become helo pilot. KIA Iraq
Maltz, Michael	MSgt	41 RQS	PJ	HH-60	03/23/2003	Afghanistan	Komodo 11 crashed during SAR
McCaskill, Nicholas L.	CMSgt	306 RQS	PJ		04/06/2013	Afghanistan	Was employed by CIA when KIA in an ambush
McDaniel, William L.	MSgt	320 STS	PJ	MH-47	02/22/2002	Philippines	MH-47 crash in the Philippines supporting the GWOT
Plite, Jason	SRA	41 RQS	PJ	HH-60	03/23/2003	Afghanistan	Komodo 11 crashed during SAR
Posch, William R.	MSgt	308 RQS	PJ	HH-60	03/15/2018	Iraq	Operation Inherent Resolve
Ridout, Juan M.	SSgt	320 STS	PJ	MH-47	02/22/2002	Philippines	MH-47 crash in the Philippines supporting the GWOT
Weber, Mark S.	Capt	38 RQS	CRO	HH-60	03/15/2018	Iraq	Operation Inherent Resolve
White, Benjamin D.	SRA	48 RQS	PJ	HH-60	06/09/2010	Afghanistan	Pedro 66 shot down during SAR
Zerbe, Daniel L.	TSgt	24 STS	PJ	CH-47	08/06/2011	Afghanistan	Part of QRF responding to Rangers in contact with enemy forces

The following is a list of Pararescuemen who were killed in the line of duty

Name	Rank	Unit	Aircraft	Date	Location	Circumstances
Anderson, Scott A.	SSgt		C-130	02/28/1984	Spain	JA/AAT training jump mission. Aircraft crashed into terrain while in flight.
Arnott, Victor L.	SSgt				Nevada	S-18 Parachute Accident
Barton, Sean	TSgt	320 STS		10/30/2014	Katmandu, Nepal	Climbing accident during team training
Berry, Robert L.	SSgt			07/23/1966	Vietnam War	Died of Black Water Fever contracted in Laos during Vietnam War
Brady, Raymond	Sgt	71 ARRS		11/15/1975	Alaska	Vehicle accident while responding to SAR scramble
Burns, Robert		10 ARS		1949	Alaska	Parachute accident during SAR
Carlton, Larry W	A1C		HC-54	06/29/1964	Bermuda	Mid air C54/C-97 during SAR training
Carlyle, Steven L.	SSgt	129 ARRS	HH-3	00/00/1988	California	Helicopter crash during training exercise
Casey, Leon J.				1947	Alaska	Parachute accident during SAR
Coleman, Daniel N.	TSgt			00/00/1958	Alaska	Helicopter crash
Crockford, Mark L.	SRA	67 ARRS	HC-130	06/10/1981	North Sea off United Kingdom	Parachute accident during SAR. S-17 parachute fatality
Curtis, Raleigh D.	SMSgt			04/20/1979	Colorado	Mountain training accident
Eccleston, Douglas L.	SSgt			12/07/2001	Atlantic Ocean	RAMZ capsized following successful SAR for critically ill seaman on supertanker Amal Belia. SAR accident
Elliott, Robert T	Sgt			00/00/1960	Alaska	SAR accident
Ferreira, James A.	A1C		HH-3	04/07/1984	Florida	HH-3 crashed in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 50 miles off shore of Cape Canaveral
Flower, William J.	TSgt			04/30/1972	England	Climbing accident during training
Gilbert, John R. hyperlink data	SSgt	6594 Test Gp	HH-53	01/15/1985	Pacific Ocean off Hawaii	HH-53 based at Hickham AFB HI crashed during a SAR. Also killed in the crash was Sgt Robert Jermyn
Horton, John E.	TSgt	129 ARRS		06/24/2002	California	ATV accident
Hubble, James				1949	Florida	Parachute accident
Hursh, Scott B.	SSgt	102 ARRS	HH-3	06/13/1978	New York	102 ARRS ANG HH-3 crash during bad weather into a mountain in New York
Jermyn, Robert A. hyperlink data	Sgt	6594 Test Gp	HH-53	01/15/1985	Pacific Ocean off Hawaii	HH-53 based at Hickham AFB HI crashed during a SAR. Also killed in the crash was SSgt John Gilbert
Jones, Jeffrey Y.	SSgt	41 ARRS	HC-130	04/01/1983	Pacific Ocean	Jump mission Pacific Ocean. May have hit head on SCUBA tanks during jump. Body never recovered. S-17 parachute fatality
Jones, Wayne R.	TSgt	1550 TCHTS	HC-130	09/27/1998	Nellis AFB, Nevada	Parachute accident. NCOIC air ops at PJ school
Judy, Mark R	SSgt		HH-3	04/07/1984	Florida	HH-3 crashed in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 50 miles off shore of Cape Canaveral
Kimbrel, Robert W.	SSgt	1550 TCHTS	HC-130	04/02/1986	New Mexico	HC-130 crashed near Kirtland AFB when a wing came off during a low level mission
Kinney, Albert C				1947	Alaska	Parachute accident during SAR
Koecher, Robert P.	SSgt	38 ARRS	HH-3	10/22/1973	Korea	HH-3 crash
Kraines, Peter	TSgt	24th SOW		10/08/2019	Idaho	Climbing accident during mountain rescue training
Kutscher, Jason C.	SRA	33 ARRS	HH-3	10/06/1994	Korea	HH-60 crash near Osan AB Korea. Hit power lines
Lambert, David D.	SSgt	102 ARRS	HH-3	06/13/1978	New York	102 ARRS ANG HH-3 crash during bad weather into a mountain in New York
London, Santhal O.				1947	Alaska	Parachute accident during SAR
Magee, Martin D.	SSgt		HH-53	07/17/1977		HH-53 in flight loss of control during night training flight in Nevada. Hit by tail rotor during bailout.
McComb, Randy S.				1983		While assigned to HQ ARRS at Scott AFB, he was driving to work when a tree fell onto his car and killed him. Also in the car was his wife Peach who incredibly was not injured.
McDermott, Sean J.	SRA	33 RQS		08/13/1998		Freefall RAMZ jump. MT-1X malfunction
McGee, John R.	TSgt	1550 TCHTS	HC-130	04/02/1986	New Mexico	HC-130 crashed near Kirtland AFB when a wing came off during a low level mission
McGill, Charles		305 ARRS	HC-130		Oregon	During a night freefall jump Chuck his a tree stump on landing and broke his neck. Was paralyzed and placed in iron lung for approximately 18 months before he passed away.
Mckenna, Kevin P.	SSgt	129 ARRS		09/07/1993	Saudi Arabia	Heart attack while doing PT. Was on deployment to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Storm.
Novak, Joseph E.	Sgt	71 ARRS		12/04/1977	Alaska	SCUBA accident
O'Dell, Robert	SSgt	66 ARRS		12/08/1985	Florida	TDY at Eglin AFB to teach PJs military freefall with MT-1X. Freefall collision. Knocked unconscious. No AAD. Died on ground impact.
Perron, Michael D.	SSgt	1550 TCHTS	HC-130	04/02/1986	New Mexico	HC-130 crashed near Kirtland AFB when a wing came off during a low level mission
Phelps, James R. hyperlink report	A1C	31 ARRS	HC-130	02/05/1969	Pacific Ocean off Taiwan	HC-130 crash Pacific Ocean near Taiwan during SAR
Purchiaroni, Leo M.	Sgt	1550 TCHTS	HC-130	04/02/1986	New Mexico	HC-130 crashed near Kirtland AFB when a wing came off during a low level mission
Reindl, Paul J. hyperlink report	SSgt	31 ARRS	HC-130	02/05/1969	Pacific Ocean off Taiwan	HC-130 crash Pacific Ocean near Taiwan during SAR
Rowe, Thomas	SSgt			1961	Florida	SCUBA accident
Setaro, Richard M.	SRA	33 ARRS	HH-60	10/06/1994	Korea	HH-60 crash near Osan AB Korea. Hit power lines
Smith, Arden R	TSgt	102 ARRS	HH-60	11/20/1991	Atlantic Ocean	“Perfect Storm SAR.” 106th RQS HH-60 ditched into Atlantic Ocean. Body never recovered
Snowden, William K				00/00/1969	Panama	SAR jump accident
Snyder, Allen G.	SSgt	102 ARRS	HH-3	06/13/1978	New York	102 ARRS ANG HH-3 crash during bad weather into a mountain in New York
Stewart, Jesse D	SRA	66 RQS	HH-60	09/03/1998	Nevada	HH-60 crash after midair collision with another HH-60
Walker, Michael L	TSgt	40 ARRS		07/10/1973	Thailand	Died of illness contracted in Laos at FOL
Whipple, John				00/00/1951	Philippines	SAR heat stroke
Wotasik, Justin C.	A1C	66 RQS	HH-60	09/03/1998	Nevada	HH-60 crash after midair collision with another HH-60
Zimmerman, Lawrence R	Sgt	129 ARRS	HC-130	07/12/1977	California	S-17 parachute accident during training jump.

BACK TO HISTORY HOMEPAGE

Email to insert email address