Memorial

Every year on this date, here at the Misawa fishing pier, we have a ceremony to honor 31 Navy personnel that were shot down by North Korean MiGs in 1969 while flying a routine reconnaissance mission in an EC-121. Nine of the sailors were from our command. Last year I co-organized the event. This year I only threw the wreath into the ocean, the culmination of the ceremony. Before that, there were some speeches and then the names of the fallen were read followed by ringing the ceremonial bell twice for each person.

We do a lot of ceremonies and formations in the military, but this one is by far my favorite to participate in. If we weren’t doing this, I don’t think what these men did would be remembered for how they died for their nations defense. It lets us remember the risk we take as naval aircrewman and honor our fallen brethren.